Peaceful protestors have set up camp outside of Beenleigh Centrelink, where they are cooking up snags and encouraging residents to sign a petition to ‘help systemically fix Centrelink’.
Locals Owen Lockett, who has himself struggled with the disability support program, and Brendan Bogle, from the Australian Unemployed Workers Union, started the petition.
Mr Lockett said they are calling for Centrelink to:
- To stop the age pension pay freeze
- Abolish the cashless welfare card
- Raise the job seeker rate permanently
- Stop the job cuts and outsourcing of Centrelink staff
- Fix the disability support program.
“The system is flawed,” Mr Lockett said.
“We’re not being treated like human beings.
“I’m treated like a criminal.”
Mr Lockett said after only campaigning for two days they already have over 150 signatures, however it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the advocates.
“When we first set up here the building (Beenleigh Centrelink) manager said we were fine to stay out the front as long as we weren’t blocking the doorway or the pathway,” he said.
“But then today a different manager has kicked us out of our spot. So we’re across the road from the building.
“Which has made it harder for us to approach people who are going into and out of Centrelink.”
