Greens MP Adam Bandt is living on the dole for a week to highlight concerns about its adequacy.
AAP
It's part of a growing push to try get the Labor government to boost the unemployment benefit by at least $50 a week.
Mr Bandt had to make a few assumptions when drawing up his budget for the week - such as pretending he's renting instead of paying a mortgage - to simulate what it would really be like.
After accounting for rent on a flat in Melbourne (about $180 after $60 of rent assistance), $7 for petrol and the cost of everyday toiletries, he says he'll only have $42.24 left from the $246.30 weekly allowance.
"How do people survive on $6.79 per day for food and other expenses?" he wrote on his blog on Monday.
"This is already looking impossible."
He plans to eat the cheapest items he can find, including porridge, cheese sandwiches and pasta or rice with tuna for dinner.
"I am taking much of the advice that has been sent to me by people on Newstart," he said.
heraldsun.com.au 28 Jan 2013
It is a well known fact (and has been for many decades) within the 'industry' that one cannot survive on the 'dole'.
Authorities have set up the dole so that one cannot survive, but rather to choose employment than to live of benefits, which is impossible anyway.
This now 'official' statement that one cannot live from the 'Newstart' allowance opens up a tax or Centrelink sting on the unemployed.
People who do not have the financial ability to defend themselves, by hiring high priced lawyers, are too often targets of the authorities.
On the 2nd of January 2013, a labour politician Jenny Macklin stated that she can live on the 'dole', as per article: Macklin dole gaffe a 'mistake'.
Politicians frequently make fraudulent claims without ANY repercussions.
It is curious how the Herald Sun has not opened up comments on this topic.
See original article : http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/surviving-on-newstart-impossible-bandt/story-e6frf7kf-1226563461363
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