Today I had to endure *gulp* the Centrelink office. Centrelink is the government department that hands out money (unemployment benefits etc). There is an argument (from most upstanding members of society) that Centrelink has a habit of handing out money to just about anyone who needs assistance to sit at home drinking, smoking and watching tv. As a taxpayer, I have a problem with my tax dollars being spent to enable people to are in a rut, stay in a rut. Don't get me wrong.....I know there are people out there who genuinely need some assistance, such as the disabled, single parent, students, etc, but I am also fully aware that for every one person who really needs assistance, there are at least two people who are taking advantage of the system.
Like I said.....today I had to endure Centrelink. Since we claim our Family Tax Benefit once per year, I had to go in and submit Julianna's birth certificate. Whilst I was standing in line, there was a guy standing in front of me. I don't usually like to judge people from their appearances, but when someone has in their hand a plastic bag full of various items with the words, "WA Police Department - Prisoner Possessions", printed on the outside, it gives you a pretty good idea of the kind of person you might be dealing with.
I was standing close enough to him (and he was talking loud enough) that I (and most other people in there) could hear what his complaint was. He had just been released from prison and made his way straight over to the Centrelink office for some money. It turns out that before he went into prison he was receiving unemployment benefits (even though his time was obviously not spent looking for a job) and he had still continued to receive unemployment benefits whilst he was in prison (not really sure why!!!!!). The lady at the front counter very calmly explained to him that whilst he was in prison his benefits should have been reduced (in my opinion STOPPED) and that instead of receiving any more money he now actually OWED Centrelink money.
I couldn't help smile to myself as I felt I had witnessed a small victory for all taxpayers today. The cynic inside me knows we will get ripped off again tomorrow.
