New funding to enable Centrelink payment cancellations ignores rot at the heart of welfare compliance
More public servants will not protect welfare recipients from rampant abuse by unaccountable, outsourced welfare cops
“Vague and incoherent”: Ombudsman on the government’s plan for people affected by unlawful Centrelink payment cancellations
Today the Ombudsman released a 2nd damning report into the administration of compulsory activities showing DEWR provides misleading communication to people on Centrelink payments, plus issues with the “quality, consistency and appropriateness” of provider decisions.
Energy justice advocates call on government to wipe growing energy debt
New AER data shows hundreds of thousands are struggling with rising energy debts as Australians demand more government intervention to lower bills.
Shame Labor shame: New powers to cancel Centrelink payments before conviction pass the senate
Welfare recipients have a right to be treated equally under the law, and should not be subject to punishment before having access to legal advice for any reason, ever.
Organisations calling on the government to abandon Schedule 5
of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025
Minister Plibersek must apologise for Sky News comments about advocacy groups
Yesterday the social services minister took to Sky News to make abhorrent remarks about civil society organisations representing single mothers, First Nations legal advocates and peak legal and social services bodies.
Growing calls for Labor to abandon new powers to stop Centrelink payments for people accused of a serious offence
Civil society organisations representing welfare recipients, First Nations people, survivors of family violence, disabled people and legal experts are calling on the government to scrap a proposed law due to be considered in the senate today that will involve police and ministers in individual social security decisions.
Civil society groups call on government to abandon police power to stop Centrelink payments without proper judicial process
Yesterday afternoon the government shamefully snuck in an amendment granting police powers to stop Centrelink payments into a bill designed to make yet another unlawful Centrelink debt collection scandal go away.
Public notice from our oversight committee
Update on steps taken after we were made aware of concerns raised about our work.
Centrelink debt waivers welcome but insufficient
Today the government announced significant changes to Centrelink debt policies.