Dear Friends, very soon, in fact it could be as soon as next week, the Federal Government will seek through legislation to have the Centrelink 'double' payment for prisoners upon release changed. The Prisoners Advisory Support Service firmly believes that it is not only in the interest of the offender, but for the whole community, that the current ' double' Centrelink payment upon release is maintained. On the day of release the Ex-prisoner receives a double payment. The following week there is a one week payment that has to last for two weeks, then every fortnight the ordinary payment is made. Centrelinks own information says of this double payment...' is in recognition of the difficulties which such claimants are likely to experience in providing for themselves and their dependents (if any) in the initial period when they are attempting to re establish themselves in the community'. Over a period of five weeks, only five weeks of payments are provided. The double payment upon release greatly assists with budgetting. In Western Australia this removal of the double payment will greatly impact on the most needy and marginalised group of people. Those who upon release who have to find accommodation, food, clothing, employment, friends, and support. With a lack of community skills, and institutionalisation as the only benefit of prison, these people who have been deprived of money for the past months or more, now have to budget with little or no income. In this climate of poverty, high risk situations of crime will be ever present. A reduced state budget within the prison welfare sector will only further increase demands upon other welfare agents such as The Salvos, City Mission, Outcare and others. We can't see compassionate corporations becoming involved in this matter of concern. To match this decrease in support the government is reducing its own level of compassion. This is not about an extra payment. This is about genuine needs. I have spoken to Centrelink and confirmed that currently Ex-prisoners onlt receive 5 weeks payments over five weeks, the first week is a double up the next single payment has to last two weeks. For further information, please contact Brian Steels 0419907016 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please lobby against these changes, let your local people know how difficult things are in the real world. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/8438/index.html -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
