Aussies on the dole reject jobs because they were offered ‘unrealistic’ work

IT’S very easy to bash “dole bludgers”, but there’s a reason why 35,000 welfare recipients have turned down work.

More than 35,000 people on Centrelink benefits refused to accept a job or quit a new role in the past year.

WOULD you accept a job with hours that meant you’d never see your kids?

Or one where you’d have to uproot your entire family for just three months?

What about one that gave you barely enough money to live?

These are the realities Aussies on welfare are facing and why many feel they have to reject jobs they’re offered.

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Monday more than 35,000 Australians receiving Centrelink payments turned down work or quit new roles in the past 12 months.

The Department of Human Services said 35,576 either refused to take or hold down a suitable job.

Some refused the job outright, while others accepted the role but did not turn up.

The government also revealed more than 22,000 people quit new jobs and went back to receiving welfare payments.

On Monday Treasurer Scott Morrison said anybody unemployed who refused to accept a job should not get the dole.

But some of those Aussies say they didn’t reject the jobs because they preferred to be “dole bludgers”, but instead they were either underqualified, required to work terrible hours or even move away.

Some people on the dole told news.com.au on Monday accepting a job wasn’t that easy.

One man got offered a job fruit picking, but he would have to move to a regional area for a job that only lasted three months. Meaning he’d have to just go back on the dole anyway.

“It costs money to move and do all that too,” he said.

“With some jobs you don’t even earn as much as you would on Centrelink.”

Rod Bishop, 45, receives a disability payment and he told news.com.au people were being offered unrealistic work.

Some were being sent to interviews by unemployment agencies and Centrelink, for work they weren’t qualified to do.

“People being sent to mechanics jobs with no idea what a motor is, or disabled pensioners told to do landscaping,” he said.

“Some jobs that are offered should be taken if possible but some people have family commitments, health issues, transport problems.

“When the lucky ones get to go to interviews and the employer finds that they have no experience, no qualifications, they are sent away but when it comes to explaining why the person did not accept the work, wires get crossed and in the end Centrelink just puts you in the reject pile and will listen to what the employer says rather than you.

“Some employers are sick of this run-around and waste of their time as well.”

Rod Bishop believes people are being offered ‘unrealistic’ work.

Mr Bishop said jobs didn’t offer training and people weren’t given a chance without the skills.

He believes there are many people on welfare trying to do the right thing.

“Get those dole cheats for sure. They are scumbags who don’t deserve any help while some people really need it and have to fight for it because of a stupid few.”

A 54-year-old woman, Karen, said she had extensive dealings with Centrelink because her husband has a disability.

They have two children, one has fulltime employment while the other is on welfare.

She said Centrelink failed to listen to job seekers and there were a number of reasons why some had to turn down employment.

She told news.com.au some jobs expected people to travel 90 minutes to work, even if there was no public transport or the person did not have a licence.

“If you do have your own transport, the cost of fuel and wear and tear on the car, you can hardly afford as it is,” she said.

Karen believes some on welfare also don’t know how to present effectively during job interviews.

“This leads to a feeling of inadequacy. The constant rejections breed the environment for depression and low self worth, compounding into anxiety disorders and contributing to a lack of motivation to continue. If you are fortunate enough to find a casual position, the lack of job security that goes with casual employment can see you start off with 30 hours a week and if you are not quite right for the job, your hours are cut, to the point where it is clear they don’t want you and you quit or you just never hear from them again,” Karen said.

According to Karen, the main reason jobseekers had to turn down work was because they didn’t have the skills, the transport, or the hours weren’t child friendly.

“(Centrelink) fails to address the mental health of the job seeker and when you discuss your issues and the restrictions that places on your job capacity, they continue to present you with options (that) you and they know are not suitable,” she said.

Some people on welfare benefits are accused of ‘dole bludging’ for turning down work.

Karen believes many don’t understand the daily hardships people on welfare face.

“You never have enough to make ends meet, no matter how well you budget and manage your funds. You’re constantly having to go over budget due to prices fluctuating and the cost of living skyrocketing. I cannot feed ourselves now, as well as I could 20 years ago.

“The cost of fresh produce is ridiculous. You are forever reminded of what you are missing by advertising. You lose social connections due to not being able to participate. You are made to feel less than. Being on a pension gives the recipient some semblance of dignity but Newstart has you questioning your very worth.”

Karen said some people on welfare worked for themselves just to get ahead.

“Some blokes use advance money to purchase a vehicle or item that they can repair and renew and sell for a small profit. They are using their skills which are not recognised. They spend their days working for themselves in essence, but to the prying and judgmental eye, they are bludgers,” she said.

Mr Bishop said those who did go to a workplace, were made to feel like “scum” or “criminals”.

“Who would suffer that kind of abuse?” he said.

Mr Bishop believes for some, the dole was the only option.

“Once you’re in the system, it’s damn hard to get out and the ones preaching that there are jobs for everyone everywhere are the ones already employed.”

Treasurer Scott Morrison says people knocked back jobs should not get the dole. Picture: AAP/Lukas Coch

Treasurer Mr Morrison told Ray Hadley on Sydney’s 2GB radio this morning: “If they knock back those jobs, they are not taking those jobs, then they shouldn’t be getting the dole”.

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said there was no excuse for not choosing to work.

However, she acknowledged many people who were unemployed were desperate to find a job.

“If someone is rorting, they should have the book thrown at them but let’s have a government that’s serious about supporting jobs for Australians too,” she told reporters in Sydney.

Mr Morrison said the government had been trying to get legislation from the 2015/16 Budget passed that would put in place a four-week waiting period for the youth allowance.

“So that means you can’t go from the school front gate when you leave school to the Centrelink front door,” the treasurer said.

“Labor should support this, the crossbenchers should support this.”

It was originally a six-month waiting period under a proposal in the 2014/15 Budget but that failed to get through the Senate.

Human Services Minister Alan Trudge was unable to provide a comment to news.com.au.

Mr Tudge told the Daily Telegraph there were areas where employers could not find workers, in roles such as fruit picking and abattoir work.

— with AAP

Originally published as Aussies on the dole reject jobs because they were offered ‘unrealistic’ work