Parliamentary Library

Michael Klapdor

@mklapdor.bsky.social

800 followers 650 following 630 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 · Oct 31

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

Louise Milligan @milliganreports.bsky.social · 5h

BREAKING from me #4Corners: Why did top gynaecologist Simon Gordon perform 7 surgeries for "severe" #endometriosis on Courtney Paton, when pathology results repeatedly showed no signs of endometriosis? Why did he remove Courtney's ovaries & uterus by time she was 25? www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

'Sickening': Courtney's doctor did seven surgeries that experts say she never needed

Pathology from Courtney's seven surgeries with Dr Simon Gordon repeatedly showed no signs of endometriosis. The surgeries left her medically infertile.

www.abc.net.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library, Tim Stephens

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 20h

My friend Jon has died | First Dog on the Moon

Jon Kudelka loved his beautiful family and was fiercely intolerant of greed and hypocrisy * Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published * Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

Welfare Rights Centre NSW @welfarerightscentre.org.au · 1d

If you have a Centrelink debt based on your employment income that was previously paused Centrelink may now contact you to recover it. They may also contact you about your eligibility for the Resolution Scheme. You'll need to apply through Centrelink. For free legal advice contact us buff.ly/YFojaVT

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 2d

Van Der Beek’s performance as a villain in SVU was outstanding

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 2d

The American actor was best known for his starring role as Dawson Leery in Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003.

Breaking: James Van Der Beek, star of Dawson's Creek, dies aged 48

The American actor was best known for his starring role as Dawson Leery in Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003.

www.abc.net.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 2d

The American actor was best known for his starring role as Dawson Leery in Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003.

Breaking: James Van Der Beek, star of Dawson's Creek, dies aged 48

The American actor was best known for his starring role as Dawson Leery in Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003.

www.abc.net.au

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 3d

No. 'Contributors' are listed in the foreword. This includes authors, reviewers, editors and people involved in graphics/publishing. www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...

Foreword

Welcome to the second edition of Issues and Insights, the Parliamentary Library’s annual publication designed to illuminate the complex and fast-changing policy landscape confronting parliamenta...

www.aph.gov.au

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4d

2026 Parliamentary Library Issues and Insights publication is now live. Includes briefs on the care economy, the aged care workforce, the future of money, tobacco control, political violence, mis/disinformation, freedom of expression, 4-day work week, + funding R&D www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...

Issues and Insights

www.aph.gov.au

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4d

This Bill is listed for debate in the House of Reps today

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4d

Background material from Parl Library on the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026.
Bill amends child support + social security laws that don't align with policy and practice. Child support changes are retrospective. parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow...

Screenshot of Key Points section of linked Bills Digest.
Key points
• The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 (the Bill) amends child support and social security law to:
– align child support legislation with Services Australia’s long-standing practices in relation to the start date of child support periods and eligibility for child support for parents/carers with less than 35% of the care of a child – retrospectively apply the child support amendments and validate previously unlawful decisions
– provide legislative authority and a framework for urgent payments to social security recipients outside standard fortnightly payment instalment periods
– clarify the operation of employment income assessment rules for social security payments in relation to a partner’s employment income and for when rates are calculated following a payment suspension or claim for a new payment.
• The Commonwealth Ombudsman investigated 2 of the 3 child support issues addressed in the Bill. In relation to 1 issue, the Ombudsman found Services Australia had knowingly failed to comply with child support legislation for 6 years.
• The Ombudsman did not investigate 1 of the child support issues relating to the start date of child support assessments. It is unclear how long government agencies have been aware that start date decisions were being made unlawfully, and what the impact on families has been.'

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4d

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 4d

The convicted Christchurch terrorist and murderer is giving testimony in the New Zealand Court of Appeal as he seeks to vacate his guilty pleas over his 2019 attack on two mosques.

Christchurch terrorist in fiery exchanges in NZ Court of Appeal

The convicted Christchurch terrorist and murderer is giving testimony in the New Zealand Court of Appeal as he seeks to vacate his guilty pleas over his 2019 attack on two mosques.

www.abc.net.au

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4d

Have always loved Kudelka's cartoons featuring Lancaster bombers - my grandfather was a navigator during WWII just like his. This multipanel piece on Anzac Day really resonated: thenib.com/anzac-day/
RIP to one of the best to ever do it. I'll stay away from Tassie out of respect

One of the panels of the linked comic on Anzac Day by Jon Kudelka. Depicts him as a kid with his grandfather, smoking, looking up at the stars. Jon asks him 'what was it like flying a bomber?'. The grandfather replies, 'Frightening'.

Reposted by Parliamentary Library, Jo Barraket, Joanna Tai , and 1 more Parliamentary Library, Jo Barraket, Joanna Tai, Erin O’Donnell

Leroy @leroylynch.bsky.social · 4d

Cartoonist Jon Kudelka has passed away, his wife Margaret has confirmed.
www.facebook.com/margaret.kud...

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 5d

Cloud lifting over Woden valley. There’s a roo hiding behind the rock on the right.

Photo of Woden valley from Mt Taylor. Rocks and trees in the foreground. Tall buildings in the middle distance and a wave of cloud in the background.

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

Richard 塚正ー緑 @rhtebooks.bsky.social · 7d

WHO'S IN THE CAGE NOW BITCH?!?

Reposted by Parliamentary Library, Nathan P. Kalmoe

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 7d

In a city packed with mighty real estate titans, they are the small ones.

New York landlords say they are at their breaking point as Mayor Zohran Mamdani begins to implement even more aggressive tenant-friendly policies.

NYC’s small landlords say they won’t survive Mamdani plan to freeze rent

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized landlords and vowed to freeze what tenants in rent-stabilized apartments pay monthly.

www.washingtonpost.com

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 7d

Here's the list of 144 issues Services Australia had registered through its Legal Compliance and Remediation Program in November 2025 - program is meant to identify and escalate 'legal non-compliance' in the agency's administration of services and payments: www.aph.gov.au/api/qon/down...

www.aph.gov.au

Reposted by Parliamentary Library

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 8d

A 26-year-old man has been convicted in the ACT Supreme Court of sexually assaulting two girls at Canberra Reptile Zoo.

Man convicted of sexually assaulting two girls at Canberra Reptile Zoo

A 26-year-old man has been convicted in the ACT Supreme Court of sexually assaulting two girls at Canberra Reptile Zoo.

www.abc.net.au

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

New social security and child support Bill introduced:
- amends child support leg. to align with policy and practice (and validates previously unlawful assessments)
- provides for weekly or urgent payments
- clarifies employment income assessment rules
parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/sea...

parlinfo.aph.gov.au

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

Many pre-Dec 2020 debts were calculated using an unlawful method. The gov passed a law to say the debts were ok and lawful. This scheme will make payments to people who might have been affected in recognition of the fact their debts might have been incorrectly calculated.

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

In 2024-25, Disability Employment Services suspended the payments of 69,208 participants with a partial capacity to work (166,306 total suspensions).
Suspensions applied to those with psychiatric conditions, neurological conditions, autism and brain injuries. www.aph.gov.au/api/qon/down...

Screenshot of linked Answer to a Question on Notice - 2 tables showing the disability records of DES participants with a payment suspension in 2024-25.

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

Services Australia sampled historical debts and found a majority of those related to employment income were affected by income apportionment.
There are potentially millions of affected debts from this period - gov estimated around 900,000 people will apply apply for the scheme.

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

ICYMI Income Apportionment Resolution Scheme is open for applications. Scheme pays the debt amount (<$200) or up to $600 (>$5,000) per debt.
Eligible debts were raised Sep 2003 to Dec 2020 + likely to be affected by the previously unlawful method:
www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-appor...

Screenshot of Services Australia website:
"Who is eligible for the Resolution Scheme
You may be eligible for the Resolution Scheme if all the following apply:
- you received an employment income debt for a debt period between 20 September 2003 and 6 December 2020
- your debt was likely to be affected by income apportionment and raised before 5 December 2025
- you haven’t been prosecuted and found guilty of fraud in relation to your debt
- your debt has not been previously waived in full or zeroed before 30 January 2026.
You can apply for the Resolution Scheme if your employment income debt was affected by income apportionment between 20 September 2003 and 6 December 2020."

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

More information on income apportionment and the resolution scheme provided in the Bills Digest for the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025: 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

Reposted by Patrick Dunleavy

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 10d

Consultations on the future of income management finished in December 2024. No announcements in the year since. www.dss.gov.au/income-manag...

www.dss.gov.au

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 10d

As at January 2026, there were 32,848 people on income management (IM):
- 8,907 under original IM (BasicsCard)
- 23,941 under Enhanced IM (SmartCard)
- 8% (2,631) were voluntary participants, 92% compulsory
- 81% of people subject to IM identify as Indigenous
data.gov.au/data/dataset...

Australian Government Income Management Program - Data.gov.au

Updated data for the Australian Government’s Income Management (IM) program will be available on the third Thursday of every month. The data summary will include: Table 1. Number of IM participants...

data.gov.au