Letter to Prime Minister Abbott

This letter was a little tongue and cheek but still a very serious account of my concerns.

To Mr Abbott,
I don’t intend to take up much of your time. You have so many things to must do in a day that I don’t want you to spend much time with a silly, disabled woman as myself. You have more important things to do.
I just wanted to write to you and let you know that I understand spending has to be cut, hard decisions have to be made and not everyone will be pleased. It doesn’t take a genius to know that the rules for the under 35’s on disability pensions will soon be for all ages. There is no denying it, the rest of us over 35 will all be re-assessed under the new rules eventually. This is why I am writing to you.
I fear that I’ll not pass the new rules. I won’t gripe about it. Rules are rules and I don’t get to make them for disabled pensioners. But I want to ask if you’ll hire me Mr Abbott? I have many skills, though I’m not qualified at anything. I did try to retrain, but unfortunately I was too sick to get a diploma. I had to finish the course before I completed it.
I can type. Only slowly and on the days my hands are shaking badly it will take me a little bit longer. I’ll need to fix up the errors from when my shaking has caused me to press wrong keys. But I can type. I’ll also need a very good chair to sit on. Certain chairs are known to increase my pain which would mean I would have to sit/stand more often. Typing while standing, walking, stretching is a little hard to do but that is for me to worry about and not you.
I can learn new things, just be careful not to overwhelm me. If things get to stressful I shut down, physically. I can’t help it but I go to sleep and not because I want to. So if you find me sleeping on the job, please don’t think I’m not taking my work seriously. It’s completely involuntary.
I can answer phones. I’ll need lots of paper notes to write down the messages. I have poor short term memory as I find it hard to concentrate sometimes. I don’t hear too well either, so some of the details might get a bit jumbled. Perhaps for more important calls you better get someone else to answer. When I’m tired or suffering with pain I tend to mumble and get confused easily. Wouldn’t want the important people who call you getting the wrong impression.
Lifting anything over 5kg will be an issue and some days (I cannot tell which days they might be) I won’t even be able to hold a coffee mug. You guessed it, I cannot serve you a cuppa when you need one. Perhaps you could drink bottled water. At least if I drop a plastic bottle no one will really care.
I could deliver messages to other MP’s in Parliament House for you, but only on my good days. I have many good days now thanks to the Pain Management Clinic in Geelong. Their programs have helped me regain some of my strength and abilities. So maybe 4 days of the week (and that is a good week), I could deliver messages by hand for a couple of hours a day. Mind you the longer I’m on my feet, the slower I get. Just something to keep in mind. I wouldn’t want to hold up important documents.
Maybe I could clean for you. It takes me all week to clean my house. Sometimes two. Cleaning just a couple of rooms would be much easier I would think. Do you use products that are natural to clean? Silly me, you probably don’t know the answer to that. It’s just that I’m sensitive to chemicals. Have to be real careful what I use so my skin doesn’t react (flaky, bleeding hands don’t look good) and that whatever I use doesn’t cause a violent reaction like an instant migraine. But don’t you worry about that. I’ll just bring my own. Hope the smell of vinegar isn’t going to cause issues for you.
By the way, how tall are you? Just wondering if I’ll be able to get away with not dusting high things on the days I can barely raise my arms. I may have difficulty pushing a vacuum cleaner or mop on those days too. Might be a good idea to invest in one of those robotic vacuums. I could turn that on with my foot.
Could you find me a job that isn’t too strenuous? I only ask as I get tired very easily and become pretty grumpy. Hope people don’t mind when I snap at them for getting in my way, as just getting from A to B is like climbing a mountain, just without the exhilaration when you reach the peak. Some days I’ll need a nap for an hour or two just so I can continue on. Sorry if I sound lazy, but I’m just trying to be honest. Don’t want you to get the wrong ideas of my capabilities.
I volunteer once a month as a Secretary for a not-for-profit organisation. It is only a few hours but on the day they have their meeting, could I have that day off? Physically I couldn’t work and then attend the meeting. It is really important to me to continue in this roll, as it keeps a roof over my head. Its either that or go on the list for public housing. You are a generous man, I’m certain I’ll be allowed those days off during the year.
I look normal. You cannot tell I have a disability by looking at me. Even the xrays, scans and multitude of tests have a hard time showing my illness. But it exists and only those that truly know me understand the impact my disability has on my life. My GP has been wonderful to me over the years, so understanding of what I face daily. I’m so glad that I have had continuity of care. It has meant not repeating my medical history with every visit.
Mr Abbott I’ll give anything a go. I cannot be certain of the days I could work. I cannot even tell you if I’d make it from one hour to the next. Such are the limitations and randomness of my illness. I’m willing to work. Willing to retrain, but honestly I’m not sure any employer would be willing to hire a person who consistently will not be able to turn up for work. I couldn’t even work 4 hours a day and say with complete certainty I’d be able to finish my shift. My life revolves around making it through each hour.
I really appreciate the support I get from the disability pension and medicare. Without it I wouldn’t be doing as well as I am today. We are so lucky in Australia as we have a safety net for those that truly need it. It is a shame that it has to be taken away. So please hire me Mr Abbott as no one else in their right mind would.

Kind regards,

(name withheld)

Here is the first reply to my letter.

ANDREW FISHER BUILDING
ONE NATIONAL CIRCUIT
BARTON
Reference Number: C15/13625

Dear (name withheld),
Thank you for your correspondence dated 12 February 2015 to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for your correspondence.
Your views are noted and they are important. A strong democracy and a responsive government always require constant feedback from its people about the issues that concern them.
The matters raised in your correspondence relate to the portfolio responsibilities of the Minister for Social Services. As such, the Prime Minister has referred your correspondence for a response.
Further details about contacting the Minister and department can be found at http://www.gold.gov.au.
Thank you again for writing to the Prime Minister.
Yours sincerely
Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Branch
21 February 2015

Second reply.

Australia Government
Department of Social Services

MC15-001702

Dear (name withheld)

Thank you for your email of 12 February 2015 to Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, regarding changes to the Disability Support Pension and finding suitable employment. Your email has been forwarded to Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Assistant Minister for Social Services as the matters you raise fall within his portfolio responsibilities. The Minister has asked me to reply to you on his behalf.

I am sorry to hear about your ongoing health issues. I appreciate that finding suitable employment can be frustrating and challenging. I commend you for your volunteer work that you do. Participating in voluntary work has a number of positive benefits. You gain work experience, develop skills relevant to your future employment, build a network of contacts that can act as referees, mentors and possibly employers. Importantly, volunteer work increases self-confidence and provides a sense of achievement.

You raised the issue of possible changes to the Disability Support Pension. The Government believes that everyone who can work should have the opportunity to do so. The Government also acknowledges that it is important to maintain an adequate safety net for those that cannot provide for themselves. However, the Australian Government believes that Australia’s welfare system has become costly, confusing and inequitable. Without reform, the system will become both socially and financially unsustainable.

As you may know, in December 2013, the then Minister for Social Services, the Hon Kevin Andrews MP, appointed Mr Patrick McClure AO to chair a small Reference Group on Welfare Reform to provide advice to him on ensuring Australia’s welfare system is sustainable, effective and coherent, and encourages people to work.

The Reference Group’s final report was released on 25 February 2015. It is a report to the Government, not from the Government. No decisions have been taken on recommendations in the final report.

A copy of the final report can be viewed online or downloaded from the Department of Social Service’ website at www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/review-of-australias-welfare-system. The Government is committed to fundamental reform of Australia’s welfare system over the longer term. The Reference Group’s final report offers a high level vision for welfare reform and the opportunity to develop staged reforms over the longer term to overhaul the welfare system. The Government will consider the recommendations when considering proposals for reform of the welfare system.

In keeping with its commitment to assist job seekers overcome their barriers to employment, the Government provides a range of assistance and supports to meet job seekers’ individual needs. The main employment program to assist people with disability is Disability Employment Services (DES). DES providers play a specialist role in helping people with disability, injury or a health condition get ready to look for, find and keep a job. They offer a range of supports to meet the individual needs of job seekers including job search support, the purchase of vocational training and other employment-related assistance as well as ongoing support in a job if required. DES providers also have an important role educating employees, people with disability perform as well as other employees. Employers need to make use of Australia’s un-tapped workforce to meet the needs of business. Many businesses already employ people with disability because it makes good business sense.

It is unclear from your email if you are registered with a DES provider. If you are interested in finding employment, now  or in the future, I encourage you to visit Cetrelink to discuss your circumstances. Centrelink can determine the most appropriate employment service to assist you and refer you to a provider. Centrelink can be contacted on 13 28 50 and the location of Centrelink Customer Service Centre’s can be found at www.humanservices.findnearest.com.au.

You may also be interested in visiting the JobAccess website at http://www.jobaccess.gov.au or by contacting a JobAccess adviser on 1800 464 800. JobAccess offers a range of information and assistance for people with disability who either have a job or are looking for one, as well as employers. JobAccess features a comprehensive, easy to use website and a free telephone information and advice service where people with disability can access confidential, expert advice on all disability employment matters.

Thank you again for raising your concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Lis Kelly
Branch Manager
Disability Employment Services
13 March 2015