An elderly woman has told the Q&A panel about how living on Newstart has been the ‘worst time of her life’ – costing her dignity and friends.
Ricci Bartels became emotional on Monday night’s program as she revealed she was forced on to unemployment benefits three years ago after being made redundant.
‘I have paid taxes for 46 years… I’ve worked 20 years in the private sector and 26 years in the public sector for a not-for-profit community service,’ Mrs Bartels said.
‘I was forced on to Newstart at the age of 62 through change of management and subsequent retrenchment. I’ve experienced Newstart for three years, JobActive left me to my own devices. I could not find a job no matter how hard I tried.’
Ricci Bartels (pictured) has told the ABC Q&A panel about how living on Newstart has been the worst time of her life costing her her dignity and friends after decades in the work force
Mrs Bartels said the experience of being on welfare after so many years of dedicated work had been the ‘worst of her life’.
‘To put it in a nutshell it (being on Newstart) is the worst time of my life, the loss of dignity, the loss of friends because you can’t go out, you can’t socialise, not eating proper foods even though I suffer various ailments, looking for a job applying for a job, not getting the job,’ she said fighting back tears.
Referencing a quote from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, she said: ‘So my question to you wonderful panellists is this, what would you or how would you suggest people like me have a go to get a go?’
Mrs Bartels posed the question to the panel before host Tony Jones gave Liberal MP for Mackellar Jason Falinski an opportunity to speak.
‘We have done a number of things in the government to try and make sure that our system, which is a $172billion welfare system per-annum, is as bespoke as possible in response to the needs of individuals as much as possible,’ Mr Falinski said.
‘It may be in your particular case we haven’t been as accessible as we need to be but we keep trying.’
Mr Falinski then touted the welfare system Australia currently adopts before moans of disagreement were clearly audible form the studio audience.
‘Australia has a very successful welfare and tax and transfer system … it’s one of the reasons that we have very high income mobility levels and very low levels of income inequality especially compared to other nations,’ he said.
Mrs Bartels addressed the question to the panel before host Tony Jones gave Liberal MP for Mackellar Jason Falinski (pictured) a chance to answer but he left Mrs Bartels disappointed
Mrs Bartels continued her line of questioning to Mr Falinski and quickly called him out for dodging the crux of her question.
‘Jason, with respect, you haven’t answered my question, what do you suggest people like me, at my age or at a young age for that matter, how do they have a go to get a go, this is so important, have a go to get a go, it is so divisive,’ Mrs Bartels said.
Mr Falinski doubled down on his comments that without knowing all of Mrs Bartels’ circumstances he couldn’t tell her what path she needed to take.
‘If the system has failed you personally, in your particular circumstances, I can only apologise for that, I’d love to know more and create a system to make sure what happens to you doesn’t happen to others,’ he said.
The discussion was opened up to the rest of the panel, with Independent for Warringah Zali Steggall hitting out at the welfare system.
‘I think it is embarrassing for us as a nation that we haven’t addressed it and raised it, the irony is we have an economy that is flat lining,’ Ms Steggall said.
‘I agree with the policy that we need to create opportunities, job opportunities to get off welfare, but the welfare has to be at a level to live reasonably, you have to be able to still have that quality of life as standard,’ Ms Steggall said of Newstart (file photo)
The story and question posed by Mrs Bartels also started the conversation around raising of the Newstart allowance.
‘I agree with the policy that we need to create opportunities, job opportunities to get off welfare, but the welfare has to be at a level to live reasonably, you have to be able to still have that quality of life as standard,’ Ms Steggall said.
Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Goldie also took issue with Mr Falinski’s assertion that the welfare system was doing well.
‘Just about everybody in the country agrees that Newstart is unbearable, it’s an absolute travesty that we, as one of the wealthiest countries in the world, have refused to do what a good government would do so far,’ Ms Goldie said.
The panel tackled a range of issues on Monday’s edition, including an anti-corruption push in the halls of power.
Ms Steggall said not enough was being done in parliament to enforce checks and balances in government.
‘There is that complete loss of faith when it comes to our politics and politicians and real concern for corruption and there is a strong need for a national anti-corruption commission. It has to be done,’ Ms Steggall said.
However Mr Falinski was quick to return serve.
Eventually the discussion was opened up to the rest of the panel and Independent for Warringah Zali Steggall (pictured) took the time to hit out at the welfare system, in contrast to Mr Falinski touting its success
‘I’m afraid you guys have been misled, the government has referred this to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity,’ Mr Falinski said.
‘It has powers that a parliamentary committee could never have, and it will investigate these allegations quite clearly with the powers that it possess.’
Another hot button issue addressed by the panel was the argument around the viability of nuclear power for Australia.
Economics Editor for The Australian, Adam Creighton, claimed renewable energy was not a solution to the Australia’s potential future energy issues.
‘Renewables will never get it. The overwhelming bulk of Australia’s energy comes from gas and coal and we focus on so-called renewables … (it) creates the impression they’re free,’ Mr Creighton said.
‘I came back from Chicago and in the state of Illinois they have ten nuclear power stations. The cost of electricity is a third of what it is in New South Wales. France as well, I think they have 30 nuclear power stations. Their power is much cheaper than ours.’