The Latest Breaking News from Kristin OConnell

Centrelink threatening payment suspensions at rate of five a minute, new analysis suggests

Exclusive: As jobseekers continue to have payments suspended, advocates call for the regime to be stopped until it’s proven to be lawful

The Guardian - AU · Nov 1, 2025

Sometimes defective, maybe unlawful: what can be done about Australia’s crisis-ridden welfare system?

Run by multiple departments and hundreds of private companies, advocates warn errors will continue to rock a system ‘in crisis’

The Guardian - AU · Oct 24, 2025

Centrelink illegally cancelled Daniel’s jobseeker payment. He fought back against the system – and won

After taking his case to the administrative review tribunal, Daniel’s complaint then went to the commonwealth ombudsman, which is now investigating Centrelink

The Guardian - AU · Oct 17, 2025

Hours on hold, repeated calls, months of delay: Maryanne’s struggle to get urgent jobseeker payments

Even as a former staff member, Maryanne Watts was shocked at how long it took to get urgent assistance. Experts says she is not alone

The Guardian - AU · Aug 6, 2023

Prime minister flags future changes to JobSeeker and other support payments

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is defending an increase to government support payments, but says "reform is never done" and JobSeeker may be revisited in future budgets, as social advocates say less than $3 a day extra is "insulting".

ABC News · May 10, 2023

Commonwealth rent assistance has no effect on Australia’s housing affordability, Anglicare says

Report finds that not only is CRA inadequate in alleviating rental stress, but that the way it’s calculated neglects those most in need

The Guardian - AU · May 8, 2023

‘It’s obscene’: ATO still chasing $2bn in student debt from controversial 1990s loan scheme

More than 140,000 people who traded welfare payments for loans are still repaying them decades later

The Guardian - AU · Apr 23, 2023

Mutual obligations processes tightened after Legalise Cannabis NSW allowed to use Centrelink recipients as volunteers

The government cracks down on which organisations can use job seekers chasing mutual obligations points as volunteers, after questions from the ABC led to an admission it mistakenly approved a political party.

ABC News · Mar 28, 2023

Poverty leaves Canberrans 'on the edge': Alicia Payne

Labor MP Alicia Payne and Liberal MP Bridget Archer will co-chair a parliamentary friendship group focused on ending poverty.

The Canberra Times · Mar 21, 2023

'Spiralling' demand for help as living costs increase

Welfare support organisations are facing huge demand for services as cost of living increases hit low-income households, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.

AAP · Feb 27, 2023