
Issue No 29		03 September 1999

Letters to the Editor

Pensioners' Plea

We are not workers, we are all in receipt of the DSP pension formally 'invalid pensioners'.

Up until yesturday we had planned a 'National Consumers Conference' and Minister Newman was sending her Officers down to answer concerns that were being raised so that people would know what to do about their problems and handle it.

It also was a way for her to have implemented in her next 'Centrelink Budget - what would be more humane to the vunerable of this Country called Australia.

The main issue was ( the new form the Independant Commonwealth Medical Officers use to assess whether an injured worker is eligable to go on to the DSPpension or even if a person who is in receipt of the DSPpension will remain on it)

Once things started to progress down the track and somehow the Minister got a gist of it, and with the advertising over the radio we had done. Just yesturday the Minister withdrew her consent to her officers being able to officially come to our conference and advise us on what the new changes were and how it would affect us.

It seems that if any 'centrelink' officers did come to the conference and talk then their job would be at risk.

Because of us not knowing exactly what is going on, it was decided by our executive that we postpone the conference for later when things started to show what we think it may be, like Aged pension will not be automatic at the age of 60 or 65 DSPpension will vanish and the welfare system will fade away and be a very dificult system to get into once you have no safetynett.

We are worried about this and have formed a 'Watch-dog Committee' to know what is happening and advise people in a telephone tree and mail-out plus over the 'internet' We also have our own Mail List too.

It is very concerning when at first it was alright for the Minister to be involved, then she changed her mind,

We wonder why and what are they up too.

Sincerely, Judi-Ann Leggetts, DSP Australia Inc, National Office. PO Box 2092 Werribee, Victoria

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Issue 29 contents

Activists: Virtually Here - Eric Lee
From the Kibbutz to cyberspace, Andrew Casey profiles the work of an Internet class warrior.

Interview: Net Benefits
Sean Kidney has been combining business savvy with social justice for more than a decade. He gives us his take on unions and the Net.

International: Dateline Dili
As the United Nations attempts to begin counting the votes from East Timor�s independence referendum, the capital Dili is rapidly spiralling out of control.

Unions: Secret Herbs and Spices
Read KFC worker Claire Hamilton's speech to last week's Second Wave Rally.

Politics: Loosening Labor�s Links?
Is Labor under Kim Beazley fundamentally changing its social appeal and turning itself into the Australian equivalent of Bill Clinton�s Democrats?

Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
Our regular update on papers and articles for union officials and students.

History: Immigration, Racism and the Labour Movement
An upcoming conference asks some hard questions about the politics of immigration.

Satire: Crime Figures Down: NSW Elections Postponed
The release of statistics showing decreasing crime rates has threatened to delay the next NSW election.

Review: Trains of Treasure
A new CD of poems and songs pays tribute to our rich locomotive history.

» Workers� Savings to Bankroll Vizard Plan

» Dress Nazis: Undies, Jewellery in Uniform Code

» Clothing Farce: Only the Smalls are Home Grown

» Overseas Trip for Organiser of the Year

» State Transit Lodges Claim on Bus Drivers

» Compo Stats Don�t Justify Slash and Burn

» Second Wave on Misos Menu

» Workers Rally To Protect Disabled Homes

» Carr Ministers� New Years Eve Betrayal

» Telstra Execs Doing Quite Well, Thank You

» Award Breach. Did Nike Just Do It?

» Unions Back League Class Struggle

» STOP PRESS: Images of Burma

» Musos, Authors in Joint Fundraiser

» Guest Report

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Piers Watch

» Is Bevis a Butthead?

» More Vizard Feedback

» The Republican Soapbox

» Pensioners' Plea

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