Antipoverty Centre media hub

New funding to enable Centrelink payment cancellations ignores rot at the heart of welfare compliance

More public servants will not protect welfare recipients from rampant abuse by unaccountable, outsourced welfare cops

Dec 17, 2025

“Vague and incoherent”: Ombudsman on the government’s plan for people affected by unlawful Centrelink payment cancellations

Today the Ombudsman released a 2nd damning report into the administration of compulsory activities showing DEWR provides misleading communication to…

Dec 8, 2025 • The Antipoverty Centre

Energy justice advocates call on government to wipe growing energy debt

New AER data shows hundreds of thousands are struggling with rising energy debts as Australians demand more government intervention to lower bills.

Dec 2, 2025 • The Antipoverty Centre

November 2025

Shame Labor shame: New powers to cancel Centrelink payments before conviction pass the senate

Welfare recipients have a right to be treated equally under the law, and should not be subject to punishment before having access to legal advice for…

Nov 26, 2025

Experts calling on the government to abandon Schedule 5

More than 100 academic and legal experts plus 64 civil society organisations oppose the introduction of new powers to cancel welfare payments for…

Nov 12, 2025

Minister Plibersek must apologise for Sky News comments about advocacy groups

Yesterday the social services minister took to Sky News to make abhorrent remarks about civil society organisations representing single mothers, First…

Nov 6, 2025 • The Antipoverty Centre

Growing calls for Labor to abandon new powers to stop Centrelink payments for people accused of a serious offence

Civil society organisations representing welfare recipients, First Nations people, survivors of family violence, disabled people and legal experts are…

Nov 3, 2025

October 2025

Civil society groups call on government to abandon police power to stop Centrelink payments without proper judicial process

Yesterday afternoon the government shamefully snuck in an amendment granting police powers to stop Centrelink payments into a bill designed to make yet…

Oct 30, 2025

August 2025

Centrelink debt waivers welcome but insufficient

Today the government announced significant changes to Centrelink debt policies.

Aug 27, 2025 • The Antipoverty Centre

Second damning report in two weeks exposes government’s wilful negligence on Centrelink payment suspensions

It is clear this report is nothing more than an attempt to cover the department’s ass so it can prop up the system of punishment it outsources to…

Aug 14, 2025 • The Antipoverty Centre

Damning Ombudsman report shows government must stop Centrelink payment suspensions

Welfare recipients and community sector organisations are calling for an urgent intervention by government to stop Centrelink payment suspensions, which…

Aug 5, 2025 • The Antipoverty Centre

May 2025

Latest electricity price update shows everyone pays more when poor people struggle

Energy Minister Chris Bowen must act on energy debt waivers to lower energy prices for all

May 26, 2025 • The Antipoverty Centre