Parliamentary Library

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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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.

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 1h

At least 36 people are dead and others remain trapped after a massive fire that engulfed multiple high-rise towers at a residential complex in Hong Kong. Follow live.

Live: Massive high-rise apartment blaze in Hong Kong kills at least 36

At least 36 people are dead and others remain trapped after a massive fire that engulfed multiple high-rise towers at a residential complex in Hong Kong. Follow live.

www.abc.net.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

Iain Porter @iainkporter.bsky.social · 5h

Today the OBR finally published employment impacts of Govt’s (remaining) disability benefit cuts, which weren’t ready in the spring. Confirms @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis at the time that these huge cuts to disabled people’s incomes come with relatively few expected to move into work. 🧵1/3

Image from OBR's Budget docuoment: "Our economy forecast now incorporates the net effect of the changes to universal credit (UC)
policies which remain in force following the policy changes made in July. We estimate these will add around 15,000 average hours equivalent (AHE) to labour supply in 2029-30. This reflects
the net effect of: (1) the increase in the generosity of the UC standard allowance, which is expected to reduce recipients’ financial incentive to enter or remain in employment, leading to an estimated 11,000 AHE reduction to labour supply; and (2) the reductions in the generosity of and eligibility for health-related benefits in UC, which
are expected to lower income for new claimants, increasing work incentives, and resulting in an estimated 26,000 AHE increase in labour supply. We have also assessed the new employment support programme announced in the Green Paper. Based on evidence from similar past schemes, combined with the Department for Work
and Pensions’ range of estimates of the numbers of individuals that could be provided with support, we estimate that the programme could support 20,000 to 40,000 inactive claimants"

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 7h

The Chancellor has scrapped the two-child limit, benefitting more than half a million families.

In April 2025, out of families impacted by the limit:

- 6 in 10 had 3 children.
- 6 in 10 had at least one person in work.
- And 6 in 10 are receiving a health or disability benefit.

Chart showing proportion of families impacted by the two child limit

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 16h

2026 Australian Parliamentary Sitting Calendar www.pmc.gov.au/sites/defaul...

Screenshot of parliamentary sitting calendar for 2026

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 20h

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...

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 20h

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 13d

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

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.

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

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

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

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 14d

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

Nick Miller @nickdmiller.bsky.social · 15d

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

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 16d

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’

Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 16d

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

Asher Wolf @asherwolf.bsky.social · 16d

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

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 17d

This decision last week flew under the radar - case could have significant ramifications for Centrelink debt decisions

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 20d

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