Simone Casey

Does energy poverty impede job search success? Evidence from the unemp... sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

There are five payment suspensions a minute. And the government can’t say if they’re legal: theguardian.com/australia-news…

Huge story here. Daniel had his payments illegally cancelled by the Mutual Obligations system. After years of bravely fighting, he exposed the error and won the backpay he was always legally entitled to. theguardian.com/australia-news…

@DanielT99875112 @maximumwelfare Nightmare.

@simonecasey @maximumwelfare The MO decision wasn't lawful either I had points requirement of 0.00 but I'd get suspended every month for not submitting my 0.00 points then I'd spend hours on phone explaining this they'd say they'll fix it and it'd all happen following month and month following that...

🚨 #BREAKING The Department of Employment & Workplace Relations has some breaking Friday night news for us. Sanctions under 42AG for work refusal failures have been paused since July 5. NO mutual obligations payment cancellations since then. 🫡 dewr.gov.au/assuring-integ…

@DanielT99875112 @maximumwelfare Sorry you had such a shit time and no wonder you were frustrated. Sounds like they found their first review was wrong because at the time they weren't aware of the 42am cancellation decision problem. Thanks for sharing it's helpful for ppl who've been advocating on this stuff.

@simonecasey @maximumwelfare In all of the paperwork Centrelink supplied for administrative appeals tribunal there paperwork showing I attended Modbury Centrelink office in January 2023 within 13wks of original decision enquiring about review and health care concession states this will be done Cont...

@DanielT99875112 @maximumwelfare This is odd, because a review usually has to be within 13 weeks of the original decision, I think. This is a 42AM case coz the cancellation was dated 28 days after the MO decision, not the reconnection notification.

@maximumwelfare Cancellations backed by Section 42AL and 42AM of Social Security Act were supposedly paused in July and Sept last year according to DEWR but mine wasn't and for some reason on 20/8/25 an authorised review officer affirmed the decision to cancel my jobseeker was correct, Cont...

@JeremyPoxon Not surprising given the focus on compliance decisions being potentially unlawful at the moment

Note: these numbers aren't reflective of issues in the system, because most people don't bother complaining, as they (correctly) don't believe DEWR will do anything But it's significant that the Department is quietly acknowledging 60% of ppl who do complain have valid evidence

New "mutual" obligations complaints data has dropped. The Department received 6175 complaints from participants in 6 months Department supported 60% of these - so essentially, 3,705 cases where they acknowledged a job provider did the wrong thing dewr.gov.au/download/17183…

And dont forget to read my analysis of all the 'robo-compliance' elements in employment services on open access here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.10…

In the week of the Robodebt doco, why wont the government publish the figures - if there was transparency we would not be left doing our own math theguardian.com/australia-news…

More detailed analysis on the TCF issues in this blog

Crumbling technology, design flaws and gaping governance gaps in the federal government’s welfare compliance system mean the validity of its automated decisions can not be assured as it impacts vulnerable Australians. innovationaus.com/failure-on-top…

It is morally reprehensible that the TCF system is still allowed to suspend payments so that providers can maintain their profits. Disgraceful

Interesting that after @Deloitte finds the #welfare #compliancesystem is appalling in every aspect, it says it is 'too important' to abandon. Imagine if we just stuck with the right of people in need to a liveable social security payment @antipovertycent @AmandaRishworth #auspol

For too long now the interests of private providers have been prioritised over the rights of the people they harm. Stop payment suspensions now! #stoppaymentsuspensions thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/…

Second damning report in two weeks exposes government’s wilful negligence on Centrelink payment suspensions open.substack.com/pub/apcentre/p…

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations released the full Deloitte report that it said would be exploited by poor people. Millions of payments have been unlawfully suspended and the government doesn't care. @AmandaRishworth immediately abolish "mutual" obligations

🚨 A new report into unlawful Centrelink payment cancellations is out! The Ombudsman also raised concerns about whether payment suspensions happen "fairly and reasonably" in an article with @cait__kelly. Tune in to @RadioNational to hear from @CwealthOmb @SquigglyRick soon!

"the government can and must urgently stop all Centrelink payment penalties – including suspensions, reductions and cancellations – related to compulsory activities and commit to permanently removing the Targeted Compliance Framework." @antipovertycent #block-6891ffd88f08dc7a3db414b3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">theguardian.com/australia-news…

Today's Ombud report has confirmed the automated system used by DEWR to penalise jobseekers has unlawfully cancelled payments. "We now have zero confidence in the IT systems used by the Dept," says EJA CEO Kate Allingham. Full statement here: buff.ly/uRpq0TW