1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Good morning and welcome to the Daily Oz. Today is Tuesday, 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: the twenty second of March, and I'm so delighted to 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: be joined by Tom Crowley, journo at TDA. He's going 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 1: to talk to Billy Fitzsimon's one of our other journals, 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: about their new podcast called No Silly Questions. It launched 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: today and I won't ruin any surprises, but it is 7 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: a good one, so we'll get into that a bit later, 8 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: but first time take us through the headlines of the day. 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: Thanks Zara, it's great to be here. Yesterday, Lizmore flood 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 2: victims brought parts of their damaged homes to a protest 11 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 2: in front of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Kirabilly home as 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 2: a demonstration against his handling of the floods. Protest is 13 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: also called for climate action, holding signs that read your 14 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 2: climate inaction killed my neighbor and Morrison, your climate megaflood 15 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 2: destroyed our homes. 16 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 1: Moving overseas now and Ukraine has rejected a demand from 17 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: Russian authorities to surrender in Maripol. Russian authorities said it 18 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: would open humanitarian corridors if Ukraine complied, but the demand 19 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: comes up after Ukrainian officials set on Sunday that Russian 20 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: forces had bombed an art school and that was being 21 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: used as a shelter for an estimated four hundred Ukrainians. 22 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 2: According to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 23 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: one in four Australians drink too much alcohol. The figure 24 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: counts anyone who exceeded the Australian adult alcohol guideline in 25 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 2: twenty twenty twenty one by drinking more than ten trinks 26 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 2: a week or more than five in one day at 27 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: least once a month. 28 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: Finally, for some good news for your Tuesday morning, Woolworths 29 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: is phasing out fifteen cent plastic shopping bags in all 30 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: stores in Wa. Stores are set to gradually run down 31 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: the stock of these bags, and that's to comply with 32 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: new legislation in the state which is set to come 33 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: into effect from the first of July. It prohibits WA 34 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: businesses from supplying plastic shopping bags with handles. Shoppers who 35 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: don't bring their own bags will be off at a 36 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: twenty cent paper bag. 37 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: Today on the podcast, we're talking about welfare and I'm 38 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 2: joined by tda's editor Billy Fitzsimon's Billy, Hello, Hello. 39 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 3: This feels very funny Without Sam and Zara. I feel 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 3: like the parents are away, the. 41 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: Kids are in charge. Well, we'll try not to get 42 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: to chaotic. We're talking about welfare on the pod today 43 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: because it's the subject of the very first episode of 44 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: our new podcast, Billy No Silly Questions, And the first 45 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 2: episode is out already. You can go and listen to 46 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 2: it right after you finish this if you like, and 47 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 2: it's all Billy talking about welfare policy, so we thought 48 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: we'd make that the subject of today's podcast. Here's a 49 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: little sneak peek for you of Billy's chat with Senator 50 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: Jackie Lamby, an Australian senator who has herself been on 51 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 2: welfare in the past. Here's Jackie talking a little bit 52 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 2: about what that experience was like for her. 53 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 4: I found it really really difficult living on that single 54 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 4: mum's pension and they Johnny have that now now mums 55 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 4: have got to go on new start, so it must 56 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 4: be really really difficult for them. It was really hard. 57 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 4: I had some of my other girlfriends that were around 58 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 4: on warfare parents as well, and I can tell you 59 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 4: that money ever lasted a fortnight. You prayed that your 60 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 4: washing machine didn't break down. You prayed that your car 61 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 4: didn't break down, because you never had extra money to 62 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 4: fix anything or do very little weak so. 63 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: Billy, that was Jackie Lamby. You also spoke to someone 64 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: who is currently on the Youth Allowance welfare payment. What 65 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 2: did you learn from talking to these people about what 66 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: it's like to live on welfare? 67 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was a really eye opening chat that I 68 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 3: had with Zoe, who is a twenty three year old 69 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 3: UNI student who is currently accessing Youth Allowance and she's 70 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 3: basically been on Youth Allowance her entire adult life. She 71 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 3: spoke to me about not being able to buy proper 72 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 3: clothes if she's lost or put on weight, and not 73 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 3: being able to buy textbooks sometimes and you know, not 74 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 3: always being able to eat a meal and sometimes having 75 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 3: to skip a meal because she doesn't sometimes have enough 76 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 3: money to fund those basic necessities. 77 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: And you talk a bit in the podcast about how 78 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 2: one of the reasons why that might be the case 79 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: is because the payment levels are below the poverty lines. 80 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 2: Can you explain a little bit about first what a 81 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: poverty line is, but also how far the current welfare 82 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 2: payments are below that poverty line. 83 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I think a lot of people would be 84 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 3: surprised to learn that Australia has one point seven million 85 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 3: people who are currently living under the poverty line. And 86 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 3: I know that's not something that we often associate with 87 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 3: a developed country like Australia. And in terms of what 88 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 3: the poverty line is in Australia, according to the latest 89 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,720 Speaker 3: data from the University of Melbourne, the poverty line is 90 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 3: about eighty three dollars a day. And for reference, the 91 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 3: maximum payment that you can currently access on job Seeker 92 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 3: for a single unemployed person with no kids is about 93 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 3: forty six dollars a day, so it's quite significantly below 94 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 3: the poverty line. 95 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 2: That is quite a big difference. And one of the 96 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 2: things that I found the most interesting listening to your podcast, Billy, 97 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: was hearing the kind of discussion about, of course, during 98 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: COVID there was extra support for people who were unemployed, 99 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 2: recognizing the kind of additional costs of the pandemic that 100 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 2: actually took people above poverty line for a brief moment, 101 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 2: but now it's reverted back. And we heard in your 102 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 2: interview with Zoe about some of the kind of struggles 103 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 2: that that has renewed for her, and I'm sure for 104 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 2: many other people on welfare. Now, we asked our audience 105 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: what they thought about this, and I think sometimes when 106 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: we talk about welfare policy, there's an element of kind 107 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: of stigma associated with it, and there's this perception that 108 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 2: people think that people who are unemployed are kind of 109 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 2: lazy or dull, bludges or some of these other kind 110 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 2: of derogatory terms that get thrown around. But I found 111 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: these results really quite interesting. Now, if you're listening first 112 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 2: thing on Tuesday morning, the poll still live. You can 113 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 2: go and vote on it if you haven't already. But 114 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 2: the early results are showing a really clear vote of 115 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 2: support for increasing the job seeker payment. Billy, can you 116 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 2: talk me through those results? 117 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, the responses that we have received so far, 118 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 3: seventy seven percent of our audience said that the payments 119 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 3: were too low, and only four percent said that they 120 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: were too high, and about twenty percent, so one in 121 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 3: five said that they were about rat We also asked 122 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 3: the audience if they would support a policy to keep 123 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 3: the payment above the poverty line, and eighty six percent 124 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 3: said yes. 125 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: So that's what tda's audience said. And as he says 126 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 2: a very stark divide. You spoke to the government directly, 127 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 2: does Social Services Minister and Rustin? What did she have 128 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: to say? 129 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 3: Yes, So it was interesting to hear Minister and Rustin's 130 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 3: perspective and she basically said that well, she claimed that 131 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 3: Australia has one of the best welfare systems in the 132 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 3: world and that that's not only because of the base 133 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 3: payment that we have, but also because of the other 134 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 3: targeted assistants like healthcare and rental assistance that are in 135 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 3: some cases provided to people as well. And when I 136 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 3: asked her why the government isn't looking to substantially increase 137 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 3: the payment to above the poverty line, she says that 138 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 3: the government has a responsibility to the taxpayer for the 139 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 3: increases to be sustainable in the long term. 140 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 2: It is a very interesting answer from Anne Rustin there, 141 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 2: I suppose, especially in the context of the stat that 142 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 2: you gave us earlier, the fact that one point seven 143 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: million Australians are living below the poverty line, and certainly 144 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 2: the one that you spoke to on the podcast would 145 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 2: probably have a slightly different view to the ministers, I 146 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: imagine on the adequacy of Australia's welfare system. It's a 147 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: really really interesting debate. Notably though heading into the election, 148 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 2: it's not clear yet whether that's going to be a 149 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 2: huge feature of the campaign. The Labor Party has, I believe, 150 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: said that the payment level might be something that needs review, 151 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 2: but as yet to make a specific commitment, and certainly 152 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: the government hasn't made a commitment to increase the rate 153 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 2: of job seeker either. So it'd be very interesting to see, 154 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: I think, whether that issue changes and whether it continues 155 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: to come up in the lead up to the election campaign. 156 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: There's plenty more in the podcast episode Billy, but I 157 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 2: don't want to spoil too much of it. I know 158 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: there was quite an interesting discussion about this idea of 159 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: cashless welfare cards in the government giving welfare recipients their 160 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 2: payments through cards that don't allow them to buy alcohol 161 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 2: or gambling or some other products. That was a very 162 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: very interesting discussion. I highly recommend that you go and 163 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: check out the podcast to hear that if you haven't already. 164 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: But maybe just before we finish Billy, we can talk 165 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: for a minute or two about the No Silly Questions 166 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 2: podcast in general, what it is, what we're doing with it, 167 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 2: and what the viewers can look forward to you. Can 168 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,239 Speaker 2: you give us a little bit of a spiel. 169 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 3: I was going to say, while Sam and Zara aren't 170 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 3: here and we're hijacking their podcast, we need to take 171 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 3: this opportunity to talk more about our podcast. Yes, So, 172 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 3: No Silly Questions is all about breaking down the big 173 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 3: issues in the lead up to the next federal election. 174 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 3: You might be wondering, hold on, when is the next 175 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 3: federal election. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has not yet announced that, 176 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 3: but it will be some time before May. So No 177 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 3: Silly Questions is all about arming young people with the 178 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 3: knowledge that they need to know. And we're all about 179 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 3: not assuming any knowledge and understanding that political language can 180 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 3: be really confusing and alienating and Tom and I will 181 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 3: be there to guide you through it and to demystified all. 182 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: It's going to be fun, politics made easy, Politics made enjoyable, 183 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 2: I hope. And on every Tuesday episode they be a 184 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 2: different issue, Billy that you delve into and interview both 185 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 2: politicians and members of the public about their attitudes and 186 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 2: their thoughts on the subject. Then on the Thursday episodes, 187 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 2: it's going to be me popping in to chat to 188 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 2: you about as you say, some of the things that 189 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 2: sit behind the news explainers from square one if you like, 190 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 2: of some of the most fundamental topics about politics that 191 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 2: maybe you were too afraid to ask about because you 192 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 2: feel like you should already know. But we're here to 193 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: make sure that you come away feeling like an expert. 194 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: I think it's going to be a heap of fun. 195 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 2: We've already recorded our first Thursday episode explaining the difference 196 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 2: between left and Right, so keep an eye out for 197 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 2: that one later in the week. Now, go and check 198 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,319 Speaker 2: out Billy's episode over on Spotify No Silly Questions. Highly 199 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 2: recommend it and very excited to see Billy where we 200 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 2: can take it over the next few weeks while you're there. 201 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: While you're on Spotify, make sure you leave a like 202 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 2: or a review if you haven't already on this podcast, 203 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 2: the TDA Podcast. Your positive feedback really helps us as 204 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 2: an independent media company and as independent podcasters, and as 205 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 2: I say, we like a bit of information. Thanks very 206 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 2: much for joining me, Billy. I'll be back tomorrow with 207 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 2: Zara to dissect the day's news, but for now, have 208 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 2: a lovely Tuesday.