CRADLE TO GRAVE CITIZEN WELFARE

Tighter disability support pension rules are hurting, say welfare groups - 26/06/2015

My husband has retired at 65years - after 30 years as a self-employed professional Puppeteer and 20years as a Disability Support Worker for the Queensland Government, (with a negotiated Award thanks to the Australian Workers Union).
His body and brain were showing signs of stress and strain leading up to his birthday. Worsening osteo-arthritis, needing new knees and then a mini-stroke alarm. Politicians were talking about extending retirement and not being able to access the Aged Pension or Superannuation.
The Commonwealth is getting mean-spirited and mean with money. If he didn't retire now he would be at risk of injury at work. Retirement was something necessary - stay home and cultivate the garden and rainforest.

My GreenMan looks after me too as I have a chronic mental illness which is episodic in the severity of the Bi-polar mood affective disorder. I have been economically dependent on Roy's wage so now he is retired it is necessary to apply for some social security of my own. 
As the Minister of 
With some anxiety I went for an interview at Centrelink today to be assessed for NEW START which sounds ridiculous to a 52 year old who has had many experiences in the mainstream workforce but failed to keep a job.

All Welfare Reports on Mental Health and Work show the common discriminations, stigma and barriers of work flexibility which lead to blows to self-esteem and ending up Poor in old age, and reliant on the tax payers for a decent standard of living.

The Australian Medicare system where every citizen has a right to health care including subsidised medicines is much valued(except by stingy, selfish Conservatives of course).

Our monthly Pharmaceutical bill has been over $250.00 so now our income is reduced a Health Care Card enables us to keep functioning in society; top example is looking after the grandchildren to enable our daughters to keep up with their nursing and teaching profession.

This medical expense does not include disintegrating eyes and teeth. Be warned kids, prepare for fifty - care for your health so you don't fall in a heap! The public health system can't be relied on when Parliament regards welfare recipients as "Malingerers"(Minister Morrison), or should not have a sense of "entitlement"(Treasurer Joe Hockey). 
THE DRUM: Tim Dunlop writes of -strategy-to-end-egalitarian-australia

"The Abbott Government's game plan for the nation is pretty obvious by now: it is a three-pronged attack on what we might call Egalitarian Australia.

Egalitarian Australia can be defined as the idea that government has a role in managing the risks associated with the inevitable problems that arise in a globalised, capitalist economy." (ABC The Drum)

Jenny Macklin is the Member for Jagajaga and Shadow Minister for Families and Payments and Disability Reform. This link leads to a discussion about Social Policy Renewal.

HON.MP JENNY MACKLIN ON SOCIAL CAPITAL REFORM