Ben Fordham has slammed ‘dole bludgers’ for deliberately handing in bogus resumes to jobs so they can continue to receive Centrelink payments.
The 2GB host unloaded on welfare recipients who were not putting in enough effort to find work and intentionally handing in rubbish CVs to potential employers.
He accused the ‘dole bludgers’ of deliberately remaining unemployed so they could continue to receive Centrelink payments and take taxpayers ‘for a ride’.
Examples included recipients admitting they were handing in false resumes to meet their quota, telling Centrelink workers they had no intention of becoming employed and deliberately applying for jobs they were under-qualified for.
Fordham read out one resume written by a man called Jack who acknowledged he had no skills – and no intention to learn any.
Ben Fordham has slammed ‘dole bludgers’ for deliberately handing in bogus resumes to jobs so they can continue to receive Centrelink payments
The 2GB host unloaded on welfare recipients who were not putting in enough effort to find work and intentionally handing in rubbish CVs to potential employers
‘I have absolutely no skills whatsoever. I made it to 10th grade,’ Fordham read.
‘Does that sound like someone who is keen to land a job, or is Jack only applying for one so he can keep the dole?’
Fordham read out another resume written by a woman called Alannah.
‘I’m currently employed with two cash jobs,’ he read. ‘I’m only applying for this position to complete my job plan with Centrelink. Apologies for any time wasted.’
Fordham said he had spoken to an employer who complained welfare recipients who had applied for a role five years ago, were sending in the same resume today.
She said ‘curiosity’ got the better of her and she attempted to call the applicants.
‘Most didn’t return my call. Some had incorrect mobile numebrs and email addresses on their resumes. One said, “You actually want me to come in for an interview?”‘
Superior People Recruitment Director Graham Wynn revealed one in five applications submitted to his recruitment agency came from dole bludgers.
‘That’s 20 per cent of all the resumes … people on benefits who really shouldn’t be on benefits,’ he told 2GB on Monday.
Mr Wynn said his agency has dobbed in 2,000 welfare cheats in the past two months.
‘I’ve been getting these [resumes] for many, many years. And it’s increased dramatically since Covid kicked in,’ he said.
‘Since the 8th of February, nearly 2,000 people we’ve reported to Centrelink, in our opinion, is not a serious attempt to find work, ‘It’s just to fulfil my obligation, I’ve applied for a job, I get my money’.’
Fordham said in March new data had revealed there were up to 900,000 Australians currently receiving JobSeeker payments
‘The ones I do like the best are the ones that say, ‘I really don’t want a job, but I have to apply for a job. Sorry for wasting your time.’
‘Now I like their honesty. But seriously, that’s what they send me. Nobody checks this.’
Mr Wynn said one welfare recipient deliberately applied for a job they were under-qualified for.
‘I had one the other day, for a senior sheet metal worker, and all they’d done is worked in retail store. It’s not a genuine attempt to find work.’
The comments made by Fordham marks his latest spray against dole bludgers with the radio host partly blaming them for a massive shortage in workers.
Fordham said in March new data had revealed there were up to 900,000 Australians currently receiving JobSeeker payments.
He said to be eligible for the scheme, recipients had to be actively seeking employment and be physically able to work.
Superior People Recruitment Director Graham Wynn revealed one in five applications submitted to his recruitment agency came from dole bludgers
‘But let’s be real here – not everyone is looking for a job,’ Fordham said.
‘Not everyone wants a job and the measures in place are not working. Every day we hear another story about staff shortages.’
The radio host said despite moves to bolster the workforce with 175,000 foreign workers, backpackers and international students, it wouldn’t fix the issue.
‘The truth is, there are Australians who should be working but won’t. They’ve become accustomed to welfare, they’ve become addicted to it,’ he said.
‘We’ve made it too easy for people to sit around while others do the heavy lifting and the workers are paying for it.’
Fordham in February urged Australians to rat on ‘dole bludgers’ refusing to work by calling the Employer Reporting Line.
‘[The number is] 1300 361 241,’ Fordham said. ‘This is for if you know about people who refuse to get off their backside.’
‘I’ve been a dole bludger for 20 years – I know all the loopholes’
Ben Hoy is just 37, but for the best part of the last two decades he admits he’s been a ‘dole bludger’.
The father-of-two, who is estranged from his children, has worked occasionally since he was in his late teens, usually doing the odd ‘cash job’ as a labourer.
In 2017, Mr Hoy told Daily Mail Australia about ‘knowing the loopholes’ to keep his welfare payment – despite him not actively looking for work.
‘Well put it this way, I’ve been on the dole since I was 17 and I know all the loopholes,’ he said of his 20 years on welfare.
‘Every time they want me to work for the dole I change job agencies and it all starts again.
‘They don’t follow it up, they don’t do nothing.’
Ben Hoy, 32, (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia he has been a ‘dole bludger’ for the last two decades
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