My battles with Newlands took an interesting turn today. 

In 2015 I was on a three-week social media course at Anglian Ruskin University. The university car park was closed second week due to refurbishment and so I was forced to park in a Cambridge City Council car park. Parking was £12 a day and on benefits of just £73.10 per week (JSA) I could not afford to pay. I was happy to pay the Council in instalments but that is not an option. The other alternative was to abandon the course paid for by the taxpayer and organised by training organisation Ixion. 

The Cambridge City Council have made over a half a million pounds in fines from this car park I later learned.

Common Land owned by the general public - once in collective ownership was stolen by the upper classes using violent force, the land never to be returned, and it continues to be a lucrative source of income for those who stole it. 

According to Wikipedia: The Inclosure Acts (or "Enclosure Acts" in modern spelling was a series of United Kingdom Acts of Parliament which enclosed open fields and common land in the country, creating legal property rights to land that was previously considered common. Between 1604 and 1914, over 5,200 individual Enclosure Acts were put into place, enclosing 6.8 million acres (2,800,000 ha; 28,000 km²).

To cut the story short, although I had offered to pay and made a formal offer months before in writing; Newlands the notorious ‘bully boy’ bailiffs became involved and continued to harass myself despite me informing them my JSA would 'just about keep a budgerigar in seed' and certainly not provide the £750 in collection fees that I had been threatened with at one point.  

I had daily phone calls from Newlands for several months sometimes three telephone times a day. On some occasions these could be very threatening in tone. 

I was surprised today that on visiting a company in Ilford for work opportunity reasons to find my car clamped on a public road with a notice stuck on the windscreen. After about 45 minutes a young chap (Glen) in what looked like a stab vest turned up and removed my clamp.

I had not paid anything. I have previously written to Cambridge City Council and threatened them with action for harassment - the legislation designed to protect people from stalking.

Ironically had the Council accepted my offer, my parking ticket would have long since been paid off.  

The public need to be protected from Councils like Cambridge and I suggested to training company Ixion that in future cities that are Benefit Claimant unfriendly should be boycotted in favour of towns and cities with a better attitude to the unemployed.

Cambridge is the City for the sons and daughters of the elite who have the money to pay for £12 a day parking. It’s not the place for those on low incomes.    

Ironically Anglia Ruskin University was funded by the controversial Tory Lord Michael Ashcroft. 

ATTATCHED below: You can see what was attatched to my windscreen below.

Mick Hucknall, Simply Red's front-man, has upset a few people on Twitter this morning, with a rather offensive tweet about MP Dianne Abbott. Along with 'sex god' Donald Trump, both are in the news for the wrong reasons it seems.

'Better to be talk about than not talked about' said Oscar Wilde. MP's do a difficult job - however much you agree or disagree with their opinions, they deserve to be treated with a degree of respect.

Sadly MP abuse seems to be on the rise.

At the ABC we suggest that you treat others how you would like to be treated, that is if you want respect yourself?     

Making a stand against the systematic abuse of human rights.

Two grassroots have organisations have come together to highlight the violation and systematic abuse of human rights of those unfortunately relying on the state for health and financial assistance.

Time is running out to save our NHS, Social Security, Pensions and Public Services for future generations to come say campaigners, Black Triangle Campaign and Cross Border Alliance.

They point out that currently our Health and Public Services are overrun by an ideology where money and profits come before lives. This ideology originated from private insurance companies in the United States of America, whose aim was to privatise everything in their path at a cost to every Man, Woman and Child.

We love the poster and the video is very informative.

Please see the video below. 

The theme of the 3rd Annual Australian Long-Term Unemployment Conference in 2016 is Finding Solutions. This year’s conference focuses on service providers and facilitators within the sector working together with employers to create positive outcomes for Australia’s long-term unemployed.

What are employers looking for when hiring a long-term unemployed worker?  Is that criterion being met by supplying agencies?  How do the two come together?

This year’s conference addresses these questions and focuses on what has worked; how the process can be improved; what resources are available; are those resources accessible; and the corporate social responsibility of business.

Combining practical examples, theory, research and best practice this conference elevates the dialogue to include businesses, not-for-profits, Government agencies, human resource professionals, social security services and industrial relations advocates.

The Australian Long-Term Unemployment Conference will be held on 1 – 2 December 2016 at the Mercure Brisbane.

Conference Topics

1. Job availability: engagement with employers
2. Employment Best Practice: case studies from Australia and Overseas
3. Industry expectations and requirements
4. The lived experience and support: housing, Centrelink, training
5. The marginalised unemployed: ATSI, LGBTI, rural and remote, people with disabilities, multicultural groups
6. Issues affecting specific groups: young school leavers, mature age, untrained, over qualified university
7. Future of Work: the changing face of work and the workplace
8. Understanding occupation
9. Preparing people for work
10. Early intervention
11. Real solutions: programs and tools for organisations
12. Behavioural aspects: relationship between mental health and the long term unemployed

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

Holly Ransom, CEO, Emergent (change and innovation)

Holly Ransom is the CEO of Emergent, a company that works with leaders, organisations and governments globally leading change and innovation. Holding a Law degree and BA (Economics), Holly generates innovative solutions to complex multi-stakeholder problems. Holly Chaired the 2014 Youth Summit. In 2016, Holly was appointed to Co-Chair of the United Nations Global Coalition of Young Women Entrepreneurs and became the youngest ever female Director of an AFL club with her appointment to the Port Adelaide Football Club board.

Innes Willox, Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group

Innes Willox is Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, a leading industry organisation representing businesses in across sectors including manufacturing, defence, ICT and labour hire.

His current appointments include; Director of Australian Super, Director of the Innovative Manufacturing Co-operative Research Centre, Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Skilled Migration,  Board Member of National Industry Capability Network, Board Member of Migration Council of Australia, and  Member of RMIT College of Business Industry Advisory Board

Innes attended Melbourne High School; Monash University; and Edinburgh Business School and has held a wide range of positions over his career. Innes is based in Melbourne and a supporter of the Collingwood Football Club.

Peter Strong, CEO, Council of Small Business Australia

Peter Strong is currently contracted to the Council of Small Business of Australia as CEO and has been in this role since June 2010. The role requires advocacy for the small business community and representation of issues from members to politicians and government agencies. Peter participates in various advisory groups to the Australian government including: Co-Chair of the Digital Business Council, Chairman of Treasury’s Business Advisory Forum on Standard Business Reporting (SBR); a Board member of the SBR Board; a member of the Australian Tax Commissioner’s small business advisory group. He also participates in a series of Mental Health Advisory groups as well as the Business Advisory Forum for ASIC; and various other business related groups.

Prior to appointment as CEO of COSBOA, Peter owned and managed a bookshop and wine bar/café; and consulted on economic reform with the World Bank and the United Nations.

Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU

Peter Whiteford is a Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University, Canberra. He is the Director of the Policy and Governance Teaching Programme, Director of the Social Policy Institute and a Fellow of the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute in the Crawford School. He has previously worked at the OECD, and at other universities as well as for the Australian public service.  He is the author of more than 100 articles in refereed journals, book chapters or monographs on the Australian system of income support, international comparisons of social security policies, and on inequality and redistribution.

Mr Charles Cameron, CEO, Recruitment & Consulting Services Association

Charles Cameron is the Chief Executive Officer of RCSA, the peak body for the recruitment and workforce services industry in Australia and New Zealand.   Charles joined RCSA in May 2016 as an expert in non-traditional working arrangements and has represented the industry before all forms of government and business.  Charles has expertise in recruitment industry compliance and public policy and, with qualifications in economics and labour law, is an Executive Committee Director on the Board of the World Employment Confederation, the voice of the employment industry at a global level, representing labour market enablers across 50 countries.   Charles is passionate about ensuring that private workforce service providers are recognised and promoted as the right balance between flexibility and responsibility in a fast-changing world of work.

Prashant Doshi, CEO, Exemplar Inc

Prashant Doshi is a founder of Exemplar Human Services and currently Chairman of Exemplar Corporation.  Exemplar Human Services provides actionable analytics to human service agencies to help them improve their outcomes.  Prashant’s expertise has enabled him to have keen insight into how successful public/private partnerships can be created to achieve synergistic goals.

Prior to Exemplar, Prashant advised numerous companies in a variety of industries, ranging from cyber-security to media/telecommunications, both in North America and Europe.

Prashant graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) having studied engineering and economics and awarded the Institute’s highest honor for service and leadership, the Karl Taylor Compton Award.  Prashant holds certifications in mediation, Harvard’s principle-centered negotiations, and the mastery level of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

Video: Poverty in Australia

French economist Thomas Piketty caused a sensation in early 2014 with his book on a simple, brutal formula explaining economic inequality: r > g (meaning that return on capital is generally higher than economic growth). Here, he talks through the massive data set that led him to conclude: Economic inequality is not new, but it is getting worse, with radical possible impacts.

Federico Pistono is a futurist, social entrepreneur, hacktivist, public speaker, founder and CEO of konoz – a startup that curates and organizes educational videos, whose mission is to become the largest online community for free learning in the world – and he's author of the best-selling book "Robots Will Steal Your Job, But That's OK: How to Survive the Economic Collapse and Be Happy", which has been translated into Spanish, German, and Italian. He lectures regularly at Universities and Fortune 500 companies about the future of humanity.

Please see this TED video: 

We have recently come across Street League is a fun way to get fit and learn skills for young people. We notice they are not yet represented in many parts of the country. Maybe you could help them spread the scheme to other areas? 

Street League operates in 14 regions across the UK and their sport for employment programmes run in 36 local communities. The 10-12 week long programmes support unemployed 16-24 year olds to learn the key skills, gain the necessary qualifications and work experience to move into a sustainable job or further training.

The Street League program helped 1,281 young people last year and it looks a great way to get a job.

Please see the video below: 

The ABC has been approached by a professional film company that is producing a documentary about 'Benefit Sanctions'. A programme that aims to address the real picture - avoiding the sensationalist ‘shirkers and layabouts’ type clichés or ‘Benefit Street’ style film making not to mention the Jeremy Kyle stereotyping of those on benefits. 

Have you been sanctioned, or do you know of someone who has? If you have then we would like to hear from you.

Our contact is a former BBC executive and I am assured this is a responsible production presenting an alternative and fair viewpoint. We hope we can help the production team find some valuable case studies. 

If you have had a genuine experience and are interested in sharing your story please email us with brief summary and contact details. 

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Damian Green MP's speech at the Conservative Party conferance. A substantial focus of his speech was on disabled people. 

One interesting fact about Damian Green according to Wikipedia: - Green was arrested by the Metropolitan Police at his constituency home on 27 November 2008 on suspicion of "aiding and abetting misconduct in public office" and "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office". The documents were reported to include information politically embarrassing to the then-Labour Government.  He was later released on bail. In a statement to Parliament on 3 December, Michael Martin, Speaker of the House of Commons, responsible for the security of the Palace of Westminster, stated that although the police undertaking the search had neither presented a search warrant nor given "the requisite advice that such a warrant was necessary", the search of the Parliamentary office had been undertaken with the express written consent of the Sergeant at Arms, who had signed a consent form without consulting the Clerk of the House.

The arrest led to speculation about the apparent coincidence that it was authorised on the last day in office of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair. It was criticised by political figures and journalists. Green is reported by Andrew Marr to have believed he was the subject of a bugging operation, which would have required the authorisation of the Home Secretary, who stated that she had not granted any such order. Green's constituency agent subsequently confirmed that a search of Green's property and car had been commissioned, but that no listening devices were discovered.

A junior Home Office civil servant, Christopher Galley subsequently admitted leaking four "embarrassing" documents to Green and was sacked.

On 16 April 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it was not going to bring a case against either Green or Galley, the Home Office civil servant who passed data to Green, as there was "insufficient evidence".

While Conservative Conference goers focus on the plight of those on welfare this week, this is the promotional video of the hotel where Boris Johnson and David Cameron allegedly mended their relationship post BREXIT dust-up. The King David Hotel in Jerusalem: 

They were among hundreds of world leaders gathering for legendary Israeli statesman Shimon Peres’s funeral the following day.

Back to earth, Damian Green MP's speech. Excuse us if we watch the other video:  

Government adopts Plaid Cymru proposals to retain 22 local authorities

But plans need to integrate health and social care to create seamless service

Responding to the Welsh Government’s statement on Local Government reform, Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Member for Local Government Sian Gwenllian said:

“Plaid Cymru always called for the retention of the 22 Local Authorities and I’m glad that the government has now supported this view. 

“So far we have seen Labour’s characteristic dithering on this matter, but I’m pleased that today the Minister has confirmed that he will perform a U-turn by scrapping Labour’s plans to force unpopular mergers and to maintain the 22 authorities.

“Plaid Cymru wanted to see councils co-operate under a regional model, and to be charged with planning strategically for services, education, transport and the integration of health and social care. However, the government’s plans as announced today on integrating Health and Social Care are not clear. Plaid Cymru wants to see them developed further in order to deliver a seamless service for patients.

“The government also needs to outline where democratic accountability lies within the new system, and much consideration needs to be given to this as the plans progress.”

Welsh Lanquage

Y llywodraeth yn mabwysiadu cynigion Plaid Cymru i gadw 22 awdurdod lleol

Ond mae’n rhaid i’r cynlluniau integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i greu gwasanaeth diwnïad

Wrth ymateb i ddatganiad Llywodraeth Cymru ar ddiwygio Llywodraeth Leol, dywedodd Aelod cysgodol Cabinet Plaid Cymru dros Lywodraeth Leol, Sian Gwenllian:

“Mae Plaid Cymru yn wastad wedi galw am gadw’r 22 awdurdod lleol ac yr wyf yn falch fod y llywodraeth yn awr yn cefnogi’r farn hon. 

“Hyd yma, gwelsom Lafur yn chwit-chwat fel arfer ar y mater hwn, ond yr wyf yn falch fod y Gweinidog heddiw wedi cadarnhau y bydd yn gwneud tro pedol trwy ddileu cynlluniau Llafur i orfodi uno amhoblogaidd a chadw’r 22 awdurdod lleol.

“Roedd Plaid Cymru eisiau gweld cynghorau yn cydweithredu dan fodel rhanbarthol, a bod â’r dyletswydd i gynllunio’r strategol am wasanaethau, addysg, trafnidiaeth ac integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Fodd bynnag, nid yw cynlluniau’r llywodraeth fel y’u cyhoeddwyd heddiw ar integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn eglur. Mae Plaid Cymru eisiau eu gweld yn datblygu ymhellach er mwyn cyflwyno gwasanaeth diwnïad i gleifion.

“Mae angen i’r llywodraeth hefyd amlinellu lle mae atebolrwydd democrataidd yn gorwedd yn y system newydd, a rhaid ystyried hyn o ddifrif wrth i’r cynlluniau fynd rhagddynt.”

Should Australia adopt a Universal Basic Income?

One of the big policy discussions at the moment is whether countries should adopt a universal basic income in response the changing nature of work. A universal basic income is income unconditionally granted to all on an individual basis. The idea of a universal basic income is not new with proposals in the 1970s but has gained a renaissance due to projections that automation will render large segments of the population unemployed. A number of countries are commencing trials and even the Productivity Commission has suggested the idea warrants evaluation in light of digital disruption.

There are, however, concerns about the cost of such a scheme, whether it would be better to focus on the distribution of employment and the risk that it might be used to slash the welfare state or end up as some form of wage subsidy. The ideological diversity of its proponents and opponents also suggest there would not be agreement on its purpose or implementation. To some, it is a practical response to address polarisation in the labour market and inequality, to others it is the means to a post-work utopia.

SPEAKERS:

Ben Spies Butcher – Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University
Peter Whiteford – Professor, ANU Crawford School of Public Policy
Louise Tarrant - former National Secretary of United Voice union