Work for the dole
Consider this:
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The average rate for Newstart (dole) payments is around $540 per fortnight.
The Work for the Dole program expects people on Newstart to do 25 hours of “approved activities” per week.
The minimum wage in Australia is $17.70 an hour.
So, at minimum wage rates, it would require a person on Newstart to do 30.5 hours per fortnight to “earn” their payments. That means that under current practices, people on Newstart are expected to do 19.5 hours of unpaid labour. Now I’m not saying that Work for the Dole is a bad program, and most people would agree that
no-one should get something for nothing.
However, I also think no one would expect anybody else to work for nothing.
It’s not right and completely inconsistent with Australia’s core “fair go” ethos.
But is anyone likely to get up and do something about it?
Doubtful, as there is a tendency in the community to view anyone on Newstart as a bunch of dole bludging scumbags, and who doesn’t want to stick the boot into them, right?
Cody Handley, Hadspen.
LGH
CONTRARY to criticisms from some sections of the community, I wish to pass on huge accolades especially to the day surgery at the Launceston General Hospital.
Upon admission on January 23, 2018 at 7am, until my medical release at 12.30pm from a tricky procedure, I felt I was in the safest hands and expertise throughout.
From the quietly smiling reassuring admisson staff, to the preparation room, to theatre, then to recovery, I was treated with understanding, compassion and respect.
Overwhelming gratitude to my GP, my beekeeping anaesthetist, my clever specialist, the cheerful and knowledegable theatre and recovery staff.
Plus a follow up check by phone the following day.
My uncomfortable experience (which could have been serious) was made more bearble, due to the care I received. From those of us born in the middle of the last century, I’m sure we would agree that we have the best general clinic hospital in Australia, with the most advanced technological equipment along with the amazing peole to operate the futuristic machines, hopefully to improve the health and well-being of the community. Northern Tasmania is so fortunate to have this facility so centrally situated for the benefit of all.
Susanne Ives, Longford.
Over the Counter Pain Relief
AS OF February 1, the federal government will make all pain relief medications that contain codeine prescription only drugs.
As such, simple cold relief medications once accessible by someone needing fast relief will no longer be available as a quick and convenient option. Instead a person with a head cold will be compelled to visit a doctor, which will involve securing an appointment, taking time off work to attend and pay for the appointment.
The wasted productivity will be incredible.
The justification for the change is that around 600,000 people are abusing codeine containing drugs and it kills some people (the majority actually used multiple drugs, not solely codeine). Compare that to alcohol and tobacco and the situation is absurd.
Alcohol has around 4 million people who drink at risky levels. Tobacco has about 4 million people who smoke on a daily basis.
Around 3540 people die each year from alcohol related conditions. Smoking kills more than 15,000 people every year.
Both of those deadly products are available in thousands of easily accessible outlets.
Yet the government is telling us that codeine is a far more dangerous product and needs to be prescription only.
Huh?
Geoff McLean, Launceston.
Australia Day
IN LIGHT of the controversy surrounding the appropriateness of celebrating Australia Day on January 26, I suggest we adopt the following changes to our national anthem:
Australians let us show remorse,
For we showed brutish greed,
The golden soils were just the spoils,
Of rampant monarchy,
And beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We should hang our heads,
For this wondrous land,
Acquired with musket hand,
Should have been left free,
For those who'd loved and trod this land,
For all antiquity.
Sarah Trousdale, Newstead.
Income Management
AS WITH refugees, African street crime and the treatment of Indigenous Australias the unemployed are also a minority group that the federal government can demonise, in order to attract the swinging voter.
A further roll-out of a cashless welfare card into other disadvantaged regions will increase hardship, as shown in Ceduna and Kimberly.
Here, not only did the card fail to reduce the consumption of alcohol, drugs or gambling, also led to an increase in family violence.
Leon Cooper, St Leonards.
Pokie Policy
I FEEL that the Labor party's policy on pokies, laudable though it may be, is flawed in that it won't prevent problem gambling.
It will simply drive these people to find an alternative means of obtaining their perceived pleasures.
I personally know two people whose entire lives have been wrecked by their addiction; one losing his house and the other his marriage.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, would have deterred either of them from their habit until it was too late.
Personally I think it would be far better to leave things basically as they are and use a proportion of the taxes gained to increase support for problem gamblers.