[Blueblue]

where is the whinging and moaning about living on $38 a day?

have we lost a demographic and it doesnt apply to anyone here anymore?

Just curious

[Lees75]

I must admit, I was a but surprised that we haven't had a thread on it:) But I think a lot of us single mothers are hashing it out on a Single mothers forum linked to Facebook

This post has been edited by Lees75: 02/01/2013, 06:00 PM

[Blueblue]

You just know shes was dying to be blunt about it.

[epg]

I don't get the big fuss. I could definitely live on Newstart allowance for 1 week. I reckon I could quite easily live on $0 for 1 week. A month would be a bit harder, 6 months would require a serious lifestyle change.
Some people manage to live on it for years - and some actually do it quite comfortably.

[Lees75]

It was a stupid insensitive thing to say when you are earning more than $6k per year

ETA I should proof read! Yes, I meant a week, not a year- lol!

This post has been edited by Lees75: 02/01/2013, 06:17 PM

[Sue Heck]

It was a stupid insensitive thing to say when you are earning more than $6k per year

I think they said she earns over $6 k a week.

[Sif]

I don't get the big fuss. I could definitely live on Newstart allowance for 1 week. I reckon I could quite easily live on $0 for 1 week. A month would be a bit harder, 6 months would require a serious lifestyle change.
Some people manage to live on it for years - and some actually do it quite comfortably.

What's your definition of comfortable?

The worst thing about Ms Macklin's statement was not that she could live on NewStart (I'll believe it when I see it!), but that people should just get out there and get a job, as if jobs are things you can pick up on the road side.

Employers have to be willing to employ!

Our family - though we're partnered - is one such family she was talking about where no one has a job. We're apparently setting a terrible example for our kids.

I CHALLENGE anyone to offer myself or my Dh a job - we would both LOVE one. I'm legally blind, but I have many skills, particularly in writing and working with children. He's 53 and hobbles a bit on his arthritic knees but he's a skilled finished artist (grapho) with 25+ years experience, he also has a cert III in age care. We live in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. We don't have a car, but once one of us can get a job, getting a car would be our first priority!

If we could 'just get a job' we absolutely would jump at the chance.

It's not that easy, and financially penalising people who are already struggling to make ends meet won't solve any problems, it will only create new ones.

This post has been edited by Sif: 02/01/2013, 06:14 PM

[censura carnero]

I bet she is kicking herself. Very, very, very silly thing to say.

[elizabethany]

She was asked and she answered. Just because people don't like the answer doesn't mean it isn't true. Could I do it, right now, no, I have a mortgage that is based on a working wage. Could I do it when I was renting, yes, and I did for just over a year.

It is not insensitive to answer honestly.

[casime]

Rubbish journalism. It doesn't take in to account rent assistance, FTB, pensioner education supplement or any other payments people might be entitled to. Or any child support that might be received.

Besides the fact that she doesn't have to live on the dole as she is employed. Why does she live off the dole (again, failing to take in to account any other payments a person may be entitled to)?

And if we're referring to the today tonight segment particularly, two of the women interviewed had children under eight so won't be affected. The other had a thirteen year old son, so I'm not feeling that sympathetic.

This post has been edited by casime: 02/01/2013, 06:19 PM