Summary: This week Something Wonky wonders if there is anywhere Australia won’t go when it comes to anti-asylum seeker cruelty. We revisit the exciting new regime for job seekers and pretend to have read Joe Hockey’s Biography. AUSTRALIA VS HUMANITY On the eve of the National Inquiry into children in immigration detention Scott Morrison launches a broadside into the Human Rights Commission president Gilliant Triggs Then the next day the Inquiry hears evidence that the Department told the health service provider to “withdraw” figures regarding the significant health problems. Meanwhile they heard evidence of abuses against the children - including creepy sexual advances of staff towards captive children. Just moments before the High Court would have had to make a decision about the refoulement of the 157 Sri Lankans we were keeping cruelly in the middle of the ocean… suddenly the government decides to process them on Australian soil. Seems humiliating, and dodgy - resentfully copping a backdown in order to avoid the court setting a precedent against your conduct. Fortunately the Oz was able to make it sound much nicer - a “deal” he’s “negotiated” with India. Government blocks Senator Hanson-Young from visiting the Tamil asylum seekers at Curtin “based on the interests of the good management and safety of the centre”. Australia redefining refugees’ birthdays so it can treat them as adults. THE FOCUS GROUP Time for the SomethingWonky Job Applicator 2014 (TM) The stupid, expensive, vicious Work For The Dole lunacy to be forced on everyone relying on NewStart, with recipients to be forced to work 25 hours a week, for under $10 an hour, at a cost to the taxpayer of $5.1bn. Libs aware that the evidence shows that work for the dole doesn’t work and never has but claim the research is all “very old” and their “anecdotes” are much better evidence. The dribbling idiots in the Coalition to force job seekers to apply for 40 jobs a month leading to much mockery as anyone with a brain points out the obvious flaws, even the BCA is worried and employers fear the Abbott government’s new red tape. . So then, somewhat panicked about their latest policy disaster, the Liberals then threaten to “fine” job seekers for “non-genuine” job applications. Good luck proving they’re non-genuine or forcing companies to stop recruiting electronically. Eric Abetz thinks five people can get one job People Being Mean To Joe Young homeless couple found dead in their car near Ballarat. Wendy Harmer points out that this is what we can expect more of under this government’s assaults on the poor, hurting Joe Hockey’s feelings and “offending” him again. Joe’s biography reveals why he got into politics - woman dismissed his query at uni about a movie ticket, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS PAYING HER SALARY “WHICH MEANT SHE WAS IN HIS SERVICE”, so he “thought he should give politics a go”. Australians surprised, after all his “budget crisis” talk, to find Joe telling New Zealanders that “The Australian economy is not in trouble” and “There’s no crisis at all in the Australian economy”. More assaults on the vulnerable The assault on women’s refuges in NSW, with more than 25 feminist women’s refuges losing their funding and their buildings being handed over, mainly to religious charities. Massive loss of expertise in supporting women fleeing domestic violence, as they sack very experienced staff. More stupid decisions by the vandals in power Abbott government considering proposal by the Australian Institute of Company Directors to water down directors’ liabilities Pretence of considering copyright reform on the evidence over, as the Libs prepare to give their donors in the content industry everything they want. The Oz celebrates it as the
