Michael Klapdor
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mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor
@mklapdor.bsky.social
760 followers 630 following 570 posts

Social policy researcher at 🇦🇺 Parliamentary Library, Canberra
Mostly welfare, social security, family payments, child care, veterans
Personal account | Impersonal observations

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The Parliamentary Library of Australia is a significant research and information service that supports the Parliament of Australia. Established in 1901, the library is an integral part of the Department of Parliamentary Services and provides independent, impartial and comprehensive information to members of Parliament, namely members of the Senate and House of Representatives, their staff and the broader parliamentary community. .. more

Political science 53%
Education 13%
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mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 26d
Parl Library has updated the Digest for the Social Security Technical Changes No. 2 Bill to include analysis of the new measure allowing Home Affairs Minister to stop payments to persons subject to an outstanding warrant for a serious violent or sexual offence: parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow...
Screenshot of text on p. 18 of Bills Digest: 'Cancelling payments for fugitives Government amendments to the Bill, proposed and made in the House of Representatives on 29 October 2025, added new Schedule 5 to the Bill. The Schedule will enable the Minister responsible for the Australian Federal Police (AFP)—currently the Minister for Home Affairs—to issue a notice to the Minister for Social Services which requires the cessation of certain social security, family assistance, and parental leave payments as well as concession cards where a person is subject to an outstanding arrest warrant for a serious violent or sexual offence. The measure was not previously announced.

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 3h
2026 Australian Parliamentary Sitting Calendar www.pmc.gov.au/sites/defaul...
Screenshot of parliamentary sitting calendar for 2026

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 6h
Division on 3rd reading - supported by Labor and 3 Liberal Senators, opposed by Greens, PHON, Australia's Voice (Payman), + D Pocock, Thorpe and Tyrrell www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 6h
Senate passed the Social Security Tech. Changes No. 2 Bill. Provides:
- income apportionment validation + resolution scheme
- debt waiver changes
- HA Minister can cancel payments for subjects of outstanding arrest warrants for serious violent or sexual offences parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/sea...
parlinfo.aph.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 2d
Statement from legal experts and academics regarding schedule 5 to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...
Tabled documents
Documents presented (tabled) in the Senate and the House of Representatives since 2022 (the 47th Parliament). Documents presented prior to this and information for government departments can be access...
www.aph.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 2d
'Letter from the Minister for Social Services (Ms Plibersek) to the Commonwealth Ombudsman (Mr Iain Anderson), regarding schedule 5 to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025, dated 21 November 2025' www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...
Screenshot of section of the letter: 'Given you, as the Commonwealth Ombudsman, have oversight of decisions made under social security law, and this mechanism involves the cancellation of a person's government benefits, I am writing to notify you of arrangements that will be established in the operation of the benefit restriction notice proposal currently before the Parliament. Following a decision to issue a benefit restriction notice, you will be notified a decision has been made and provided with information about the benefit restriction notice being issued. This will include information about the circumstances in which the notice was issued and advice prepared by agencies such as Services Australia on the exercise of the power. I would be pleased if your office could provide advice as to the information it would ordinarily seek to form a view about the use of such provisions.

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

maximumwelfare.bsky.social
Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 6d
Excellent summary of the bill, the amendments, and the history of the debate available from the APH library here:

www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025
Key points The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025 (the Bill) will: retrospectively validate social security payment rate calculations...
www.aph.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 6d
Draft Senate program has this big Social Security Bill listed first for debate on Monday - www.pmc.gov.au/resources/dr...

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

brionyneilson.bsky.social
Briony Neilson @brionyneilson.bsky.social · 7d
"Matildas star Mary Fowler has revealed the inner torment she endured during her time at French club Montpellier, saying she and another black teammate were given bananas instead of flowers during a farewell presentation from the club, an incident she says was not 'a simple error."
‘Treated differently’: Mary Fowler claims she was given bananas instead of flowers on leaving French club
The Matildas star said her tenure at Montpellier made her consider quitting soccer.
www.smh.com.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

abcnewsbot.bsky.social
ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 12d
The move will affect Australia and New Zealand's multiple police and defence personnel working in Vanuatu, and could set back the signing of the Nakamal Agreement.
Vanuatu expels Australian, NZ advisors to stop 'outside influence'
The move will affect Australia and New Zealand's multiple police and defence personnel working in Vanuatu, and could set back the signing of the Nakamal Agreement.
www.abc.net.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 12d
JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients as at October 2025: 991,540 (up from 988,745 in September).
Average duration on JobSeeker is about 173 weeks.
JobSeeker recipients' average duration on any payment is 255 weeks (Sept '25 data)
data.gov.au/data/dataset...
Line chart showing the total number of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from March 2019 to October 2025

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

abcnewsbot.bsky.social
ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 12d
Almost a decade after one was recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Working with children check tracker established amid pressure on child care
Almost a decade after one was recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
www.abc.net.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 13d
The delayed report still missed out on the High Court granting special leave to the appeal in the Chaplin case last week
Quote from section on income apportioment in the financial statements section of the annual report, p. 172 - 'In August 2025, 2 special leave applications were filed in the High Court of Australia concerning the Chaplin Case. The applications were made by NSW Legal Aid (as intervener) and Victoria Legal Aid (representing Mr Chaplin) and they challenge the Full Federal Court’s decision in the Chaplin Case. A special leave application is a procedural step before the applicants can argue a substantive appeal before the High Court; it is too early to assess any impact. In the meantime, the Full Federal Court decision in the Chaplin Case is binding and is the law to be applied in relation to the calculation of debts. Unless and until the special leave applications are accepted by the High Court, there is no change to financial risk. This matter is disclosed as a legal contingency in Note 7.1.

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 13d
Department of Social Services annual report has been tabled (must later than the normal before October Estimates hearings/before 31 October timeframe): www.dss.gov.au/annual-repor...
www.dss.gov.au

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 13d
gross that it was wet. It's good they're back though so these little pygmy possums don't go extinct

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 13d
they used to always come in via the stairwells at APH. They could just be coming from a neighbour and then slipping under the doorway

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

australia.theguardian.com
Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 13d
Government using machine learning to help create draft plans for NDIS participants, documents reveal
Government using machine learning to help create draft plans for NDIS participants, documents reveal
Exclusive: NDIA defines machine learning as a subset of AI that uses algorithms to learn from data and make decisions or predictions * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast National Disability Insurance Agency staff are using machine learning to help create draft plans for NDIS participants, documents obtained by Guardian Australia reveal. Documents related to NDIA’s use of AI released under freedom of information laws showed 300 staff participated in a six-month trial of Microsoft’s Copilot AI from January last year. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

nickdmiller.bsky.social
Nick Miller @nickdmiller.bsky.social · 14d
TIL Australia used to have 'drop crocs', crocodilic ancestors that would (probably) climb trees then jump down on unsuspecting victims. Shame they died out really. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
55m-year-old eggshells unearthed in Queensland may be older relative of infamous ‘drop crocs’
Scientists believe new discovery to be the oldest crocodilian eggshells ever found in Australia
www.theguardian.com

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 15d
On a more minor note, Treasury’s Annual Report refers a few times to the ‘Federation Financial Relations Act’ when it should be the ‘Federal Financial Relations Act’
asherwolf.bsky.social Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 15d
The Albanese government’s $2.3 billion energy bill subsidies to households and business potentially breached the Constitution because Treasury did not attain appropriate written approval for the payments from Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the department has admitted www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Legal error in $2.3b energy bill subsidies revealed
Treasury has disclosed a technical potential breach of constitutional law after it failed to gain appropriate written approval from Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
www.afr.com

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

asherwolf.bsky.social
Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 15d
The Albanese government’s $2.3 billion energy bill subsidies to households and business potentially breached the Constitution because Treasury did not attain appropriate written approval for the payments from Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the department has admitted www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Legal error in $2.3b energy bill subsidies revealed
Treasury has disclosed a technical potential breach of constitutional law after it failed to gain appropriate written approval from Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
www.afr.com

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 16d
This decision last week flew under the radar - case could have significant ramifications for Centrelink debt decisions
mklapdor.bsky.social Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 19d
High Court granted special leave to appeal Fed Court’s decision in the Chaplin v DSS case (related to Centrelink’s assessment of employment income and income apportionment).
Comes same day the gov’s income apportionment validation Bill delayed to next sitting www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-ju...
www.hcourt.gov.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 19d
Christopher Rudge’s article on the Federal Court’s decision provides useful background and analysis theconversation.com/the-ghost-of...
The ghost of Robodebt – Federal Court rules billions of dollars in welfare debts must be recalculated
The ruling has allowed the Department of Social Services to resume pursuing historical welfare debts, which the Ombudsman has previously found to be unlawful.
theconversation.com

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 19d
High Court granted special leave to appeal Fed Court’s decision in the Chaplin v DSS case (related to Centrelink’s assessment of employment income and income apportionment).
Comes same day the gov’s income apportionment validation Bill delayed to next sitting www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-ju...
www.hcourt.gov.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

aboutthehouse.bsky.social
About the House @aboutthehouse.bsky.social · 20d
The House stands adjourned.

The next sitting of the House is scheduled for 10 am (AEDT) Monday, 24 November 2025.

📷 Photo supplied by AUSPIC/DPS.

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 20d
What the inside of my brain sounds like this week

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

vintageobscura.net
Vintage Obscura Radio @vintageobscura.net · 20d
Montanari Band - Frogs In Love (Italy, pop) (1973)
https://redd.it/b4x5km
https://youtu.be/teFrUVTDF64
Montanari Band - Frogs In Love (Italy, pop) (1973)
youtu.be

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

brucebradbury.bsky.social
Bruce Bradbury @brucebradbury.bsky.social · 20d
Income support recipients still have the highest annual price rise (Australia, Sept qtr 2025).
Living cost indexes by household type

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

antipovertycentre.org
Antipoverty Centre @antipovertycentre.org · 20d
As well as the Law Council of Australia, more disability peak bodies have come out to oppose the sudden introduction of new powers for police & ministers to cancel social security for people accused of a serious offence.
Australian Autism Alliance Children and Young People with Disability Community Mental Health Australia Down Syndrome Australia Inclusion Australia National Ethnic Disability Alliance Physical Disability Australia Women with Disabilities Australia

mklapdor.bsky.social
Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 20d
Senate should vote on proposed amendments to this Bill today (next on the program) www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxZw...