Read on Twitter
I was on Centrelink during my time at uni and it was an awful experience just to be able to have a bit of extra money to keep me alive.
In 2015 I stopped my Centrelink support.
In 2017 I received a letter, which arrived weeks after the date on the letter, with a debt over $1000
In 2015 I stopped my Centrelink support.
In 2017 I received a letter, which arrived weeks after the date on the letter, with a debt over $1000
Needless to say I freaked out and was in shock that I had accrued such a debt. Whilst I was at uni I mostly worked weekends at a bakery cafe. But somehow I had earnt too much & owed the government money.
At the time I had just enough savings to pay it and still be able to live.
At the time I had just enough savings to pay it and still be able to live.
Others weren't in that position.
It caused me a great deal of stress at the time.
A couple years later I heard about robodebt, and I wondered, is that what happened to me?
It caused me a great deal of stress at the time.
A couple years later I heard about robodebt, and I wondered, is that what happened to me?
Yesterday, I received a msg from Centrelink saying they were refunding my 'income compliance debt'.
In 2020, 3 years later and 5 years after I stopped Centrelink support.
In 2020, 3 years later and 5 years after I stopped Centrelink support.
I'd never have received this, or known about the incredibly incompetent & malicious government decision to use this system, had it not been for the brave people who fought back.
I am incredibly grateful to them & the lawyers who made the government accountable for their actions
I am incredibly grateful to them & the lawyers who made the government accountable for their actions
Why does the government always insist on taking as much money as they can from the poor? But then have this "don't bite the hand that feeds you" mentality to providing welfare support?
Fuck. You fucked up. You continue to fuck up and do wrong by your people and I've had enough.
Fuck. You fucked up. You continue to fuck up and do wrong by your people and I've had enough.
The Australian government is awful and self-serving. Stealing from the poor? Totally acceptable. Giving huge tax breaks to corporations fucking our land and indigenous sites, so they can line their pockets for elections? Totally acceptable.
What the fuck. The government should be for the *PEOPLE* not for the government's political party members to continue living lavishly whilst the poor become poorer and the class divide widens. Not to mention how they treat the original custodians of this land.
I don't normally tweet political opinions on the internet or post serious things but with everything going on atm, I just had to vent.
But if there is a time to get mad and say something about the government, it's now.
But if there is a time to get mad and say something about the government, it's now.
