A Thousand Words

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Fw: 1 Morilla Street

From: Lorraine Wales <Lorraine@flemingsps.com>
Sent: Thursday, 28 November 2024 11:52 AM
To: catherinecregan@hotmail.com <catherinecregan@hotmail.com>
Subject: 1 Morilla Street

Good morning,

The property has a wall mounted a/c (not split system)and gas outlet for heating.

Regards

Lorraine Wales
Senior Property Manager

27 Kendal Street, Cowra NSW 2794

P (02) 6342 6880

E lorraine@flemingsps.com W www.flemingspropertyservices.com

F https://www.facebook.com/FlemingsPropertyServices/

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Monday, September 9, 2024

Book Group Meeting 2nd October 2024. Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance

Hi Everyone,

Please forward this message if I've left anyone off the mailing list.

The book for the 2^nd October is Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance.

There is an interesting review in The New Yorker by Jessica Winter (August 16,2024), called The Story "Hillbilly Elegy" Doesn't Tell. TNY let me read it although I'm not a subscriber but half the screen on my iPhone was blocked out with an ad suggesting I subscribe. But if you continue scrolling you can see all the article (I hope!) in small bites.

I'll miss the 2 October meeting ( in France) but I'm hoping Kathy will be able to connect you all. Catch up again in November! I'll set up a Zoom for November. Grateful I someone can let the group know what book you have decided on for the November meeting (chosen at the October meeting)

Happy readiing to you all and enjoy the sunshine

Catherine

Catherine Cregan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Book Group Meeting

Time: Oct 2, 2024 07:30 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Join Zoom Meeting

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Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Sent on the go with Vodafone.
Please note that you cannot reply to the sender via email.

 Haircut. 12.30. Jo

Sent on the go with Vodafone.
Please note that you cannot reply to the sender via email.

 Vodaphone global roaming

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Sent on the go with Vodafone.
Please note that you cannot reply to the sender via email.

 Thursday.  Ring Christine Reid Pick up 1.30 Haircut. 3.30

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Fw: Invitation to Annmaree's 70th birthday party

Just a reminder of the details for Annmaree's birthday on Saturday 23^rd March..

Where: Royal Oak Hotel, Curtis Road, Balmain.

Time: 6.30pm till late

There will be dancing. AM loves dancing.

Music selection by AM and Alex.

I thought we could get a ferry to Balmain and then an uber or taxi home.

Cxx

From: Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, 8 January 2024 12:08 PM
To: Patrick Henningham <patthenn@gmail.com>; David Henningham <davehenningham@gmail.com>; Elizabeth Anne Henningham <elizabeth.henningham@gmail.com>; Stephen Henningham <stephen.henningham@gmail.com>
Subject: Invitation to Annmaree's 70th birthday party

On 4 Jan 2024, at 12:53 pm, Annmaree O'Keeffe <okeea@bigpond.com> wrote:

I've sent this to you, Stephen and Elizabeth because I have your emails. But I don't have David's or Patrick's. Could you send me their emails or simply let them know that they are also invited. If they need incentive, Dom will be there and Alex is putting the music together!

xx

Begin forwarded message:

From: Annmaree O'Keeffe <okeea@bigpond.com>

Subject: Annmaree's 70th birthday party

Date: 4 January 2024 at 12:44:48 pm AEDT

To: Annmaree O'Keeffe <okeea@bigpond.com>

Cc: Chris Greene <chrisgreenepng@gmail.com>

Annmaree's turning 70……….

Why do you need to know? Because she's inviting you to her birthday party

Where? Royal Oak Hotel, Curtis Road, Balmain, 6.30pm till late (there will be dancing!)

When? Saturday March 23, 2024

RSVP? okeea@bigpond.com or SMS 0419008991

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Re: Book group meeting 3rd April, 2024. Book: "Did I Ever Tell You This? A memoir" by Sam Neill

Thank you Catherine

K x

Sent from my iPhone

On 10 Mar 2024, at 15:46, Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone,

The log-in for the April Zoom book group is below. The book is "Did I Ever Tell You This? A memoir" by Sam Neill. I've just realised we will have had two memoirs in a row, but they are rather different. It was so interesting to hear your comments on Hillary Mantel's memoir.

At one stage the difference between reading and listening to books was discussed. It was noted that when listening one often missed noticing the quality of the writing, because we are focussed on the story. It was pointed out that the writing in Mantel's case was exceptional and rewarded reading. Neill's book can also be read or listened to, and the audio version is read by Sam Neill.

Hope all is going well with you all.

All the best,

Catherine

Catherine Cregan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: My Meeting

Time: Apr 3, 2024 07:30 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4352689289?pwd=bzdiaG5pM1h6Ym93QTZsa0FJUE5iZz09&omn=84730590956

Meeting ID: 435 268 9289

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Meeting ID: 435 268 9289

Passcode: 176819

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kehdyshFj1

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Book group meeting 3rd April, 2024. Book: "Did I Ever Tell You This? A memoir" by Sam Neill

Hi everyone,

The log-in for the April Zoom book group is below. The book is "Did I Ever Tell You This? A memoir" by Sam Neill. I've just realised we will have had two memoirs in a row, but they are rather different. It was so interesting to hear your comments on Hillary Mantel's memoir.

At one stage the difference between reading and listening to books was discussed. It was noted that when listening one often missed noticing the quality of the writing, because we are focussed on the story. It was pointed out that the writing in Mantel's case was exceptional and rewarded reading. Neill's book can also be read or listened to, and the audio version is read by Sam Neill.

Hope all is going well with you all.

All the best,

Catherine

Catherine Cregan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: My Meeting

Time: Apr 3, 2024 07:30 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4352689289?pwd=bzdiaG5pM1h6Ym93QTZsa0FJUE5iZz09&omn=84730590956

Meeting ID: 435 268 9289

Passcode: Hello

---

One tap mobile

+15642172000,,4352689289#,,,,*176819# US

+16465588656,,4352689289#,,,,*176819# US (New York)

---

Dial by your location

• +1 564 217 2000 US

• +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

• +1 646 931 3860 US

• +1 669 444 9171 US

• +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

• +1 689 278 1000 US

• +1 719 359 4580 US

• +1 253 205 0468 US

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 305 224 1968 US

• +1 309 205 3325 US

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 360 209 5623 US

• +1 386 347 5053 US

• +1 507 473 4847 US

Meeting ID: 435 268 9289

Passcode: 176819

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kehdyshFj1

Monday, December 18, 2023

Re: Should we add Hurlston Park to the list of possible suburbs, David?

Got a train station?

Sent from my iPhone

On 19 Dec 2023, at 08:36, Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com> wrote:

HURLSTON PARK

You've probably never heard of this suburb. I hadn't until I tracked it down on Google Maps a decade ago when my brother moved there.

If you have heard of it, your exposure may be due to the brief period – a matter of hours – it lurked in the furthest corner of the national consciousness last year when its prosaic RSL hosted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's victory party.

Hurlstone Park is a blink-and-you'll miss it patch of leafy quiet in an otherwise gritty part of Sydney. It sits on the border of the inner west and the south-west – woke politics on one side, drive-by shootings on the other.

An event celebrating the Cooks River at Hurlstone Park

CREDIT:BROOK MITCHELL

It was once described as the Paris end of Canterbury-Bankstown local government area. The locals like that moniker and point to features Hurlo shares with the City of Love: a dirty river (the Cooks), good coffee and a preponderance of dogs.

Hurlstone Park is often overshadowed by its eastern neighbours Dulwich Hill and Summer Hill, in the way a make-up-free beauty can be eclipsed by sequins and lipstick.

Those suburbs have fancy bars, restaurants and boutiques. Hurlo has a more earthy vibe: a vintage shop, a thriving soccer club and a cluster of excellent cafes. One of them is HP Source, which was forced to change its name from Saint Lucifer after being hounded by hardline Christians.

Until recently, Hurlo also had its own version of Stanmore's Olympia Milk Bar – a Greek cobbler who emigrated after World War II and worked for five decades in his tiny shop cluttered with shoes and cigarettes. He died a few months ago.

Rhys Williams at HP Source cafe, Hurlstone Park.

CREDIT:JANIE BARRETT

Nowadays, it even has small bars. One, HP Bowlo, next to Source – the first small bar in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA – is named after a beloved 70-year-old lawn bowls club across the road that was pulled down amid great local grief because it was too unsafe to stand.

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HP Bowlo has preserved the spirit of its namesake. There are meat trays, local brews and, better still, the strong likelihood that if you walk in at any point in the evening, you'll know another patron – even if it's the barman.

That's the gem that lies at the heart of this humble little suburb. It might boast beautiful heritage homes, leafy figs and ample green space along its healing river, but the thing that sets Hurlo apart is its kindly, welcoming community.

Local resident Barney Soloman swims in the Cooks River at Boat Harbour, Hurlstone Park (it's not recommended).

CREDIT:BROOK MITCHELL

No one flashes money (even though, like everywhere in Sydney, it's increasingly wealthy). Kids still ride bikes around the streets. There's no need to change out of ill-fitting trackies for school pick-up; pretension is surrendered at the Inner West Council border.

I don't actually live in Hurlo. I'm now, after my brother introduced me to the area, HP adjacent. I'm also HP aspirational; I love its vibe so much that I interlope regularly and have never been made to feel less than a member of the family.

Riverside picnics at Hurlstone Park.

CREDIT:BROOK MITCHELL

Best cafe?

A tight race between HP Source, with excellent coffee, and Kylon, with its delicious breakfasts.

Best restaurant?

Should we add Hurlston Park to the list of possible suburbs, David?

HURLSTON PARK

You've probably never heard of this suburb. I hadn't until I tracked it down on Google Maps a decade ago when my brother moved there.

If you have heard of it, your exposure may be due to the brief period – a matter of hours – it lurked in the furthest corner of the national consciousness last year when its prosaic RSL hosted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's victory party.

Hurlstone Park is a blink-and-you'll miss it patch of leafy quiet in an otherwise gritty part of Sydney. It sits on the border of the inner west and the south-west – woke politics on one side, drive-by shootings on the other.

An event celebrating the Cooks River at Hurlstone Park

CREDIT:BROOK MITCHELL

It was once described as the Paris end of Canterbury-Bankstown local government area. The locals like that moniker and point to features Hurlo shares with the City of Love: a dirty river (the Cooks), good coffee and a preponderance of dogs.

Hurlstone Park is often overshadowed by its eastern neighbours Dulwich Hill and Summer Hill, in the way a make-up-free beauty can be eclipsed by sequins and lipstick.

Those suburbs have fancy bars, restaurants and boutiques. Hurlo has a more earthy vibe: a vintage shop, a thriving soccer club and a cluster of excellent cafes. One of them is HP Source, which was forced to change its name from Saint Lucifer after being hounded by hardline Christians.

Until recently, Hurlo also had its own version of Stanmore's Olympia Milk Bar – a Greek cobbler who emigrated after World War II and worked for five decades in his tiny shop cluttered with shoes and cigarettes. He died a few months ago.

Rhys Williams at HP Source cafe, Hurlstone Park.

CREDIT:JANIE BARRETT

Nowadays, it even has small bars. One, HP Bowlo, next to Source – the first small bar in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA – is named after a beloved 70-year-old lawn bowls club across the road that was pulled down amid great local grief because it was too unsafe to stand.

HP Bowlo has preserved the spirit of its namesake. There are meat trays, local brews and, better still, the strong likelihood that if you walk in at any point in the evening, you'll know another patron – even if it's the barman.

That's the gem that lies at the heart of this humble little suburb. It might boast beautiful heritage homes, leafy figs and ample green space along its healing river, but the thing that sets Hurlo apart is its kindly, welcoming community.

Local resident Barney Soloman swims in the Cooks River at Boat Harbour, Hurlstone Park (it's not recommended).

CREDIT:BROOK MITCHELL

No one flashes money (even though, like everywhere in Sydney, it's increasingly wealthy). Kids still ride bikes around the streets. There's no need to change out of ill-fitting trackies for school pick-up; pretension is surrendered at the Inner West Council border.

I don't actually live in Hurlo. I'm now, after my brother introduced me to the area, HP adjacent. I'm also HP aspirational; I love its vibe so much that I interlope regularly and have never been made to feel less than a member of the family.

Riverside picnics at Hurlstone Park.

CREDIT:BROOK MITCHELL

Best cafe?

A tight race between HP Source, with excellent coffee, and Kylon, with its delicious breakfasts.

Best restaurant?

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Re: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Hello Catherine

I apologise for the late notice but I do not feel I can join you as coming down with one of those bugs. At work at moment but probably go home soon ( not infecting anyone as alone in office). Hope you enjoy lunch/meeting. I enjoyed the book more than some of her previous ones. Hope you all have a happy Xmas period.

Cheers Cathy

Sent from iPhone

On 5 Dec 2023, at 5:17 pm, Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I booked a table for eight for tomorrow, in the outside area of Old Parliament House Cafe, with the aim of decreasing our chance of catching some of the bugs that seem to be going around at the moment.

However, I've just looked at the BOM forecast for tomorrow and it is predicting temperatures of around 33 degrees at the time we will be there. OPH cafe may have good, shady areas but I will call or visit them tomorrow morning to see what it looks/feels like and ask them if we can have an indoor option available if we think it's too hot. If you have any thoughts I am happy to hear them. I still have a Zoom booking for 7.30pm if that is preferred.

Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Cx

Re: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Hi Catherine, I am also pretty flexible but it might be more comfortable inside if there is not much shade available. Happy to go with your call depending on what they say. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Helen

On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 5:17 PM Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I booked a table for eight for tomorrow, in the outside area of Old Parliament House Cafe, with the aim of decreasing our chance of catching some of the bugs that seem to be going around at the moment.

However, I've just looked at the BOM forecast for tomorrow and it is predicting temperatures of around 33 degrees at the time we will be there. OPH cafe may have good, shady areas but I will call or visit them tomorrow morning to see what it looks/feels like and ask them if we can have an indoor option available if we think it's too hot. If you have any thoughts I am happy to hear them. I still have a Zoom booking for 7.30pm if that is preferred.

Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Cx

Re: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Thanks Catherine. I am happy with either. See you tomorrow.

Nola

On 5 Dec 2023, at 6:02 pm, suzanne.thompson58@gmail.com wrote:

Hi Catherine
I'm happy with either inside or out and will go with the flow.
Cheers
Sue
Sent from my iPhone

On 5 Dec 2023, at 5:52 pm, kathy korsch <kathykorsch@hotmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Catherine, I will leave it up to you to decide, I am happy to lunch either inside or out.

Thanks Kathy

Get Outlook for iOS

From: Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 5:17:32 PM
To: nola adcock <nola.adcock@gmail.com>; Sue Thompson new <thompson@grapevine.com.au>; Suzanne Thompson...book group <suzannet559@gmail.com>; Suzanne Thompson <suzanne.thompson58@gmail.com>; kathy korsch <kathykorsch@hotmail.com>; Judy Tokley new <judith.tokley@gmail.com>; Cathy Madden <cathy.madden665@gmail.com>; Cathy Madden <cathy.madden@iinet.net.au>; helen monro <helenmonro@gmail.com>; Catherine Cregan <catherineesmey.logan@blogger.com>
Subject: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Hi everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I booked a table for eight for tomorrow, in the outside area of Old Parliament House Cafe, with the aim of decreasing our chance of catching some of the bugs that seem to be going around at the moment.

However, I've just looked at the BOM forecast for tomorrow and it is predicting temperatures of around 33 degrees at the time we will be there. OPH cafe may have good, shady areas but I will call or visit them tomorrow morning to see what it looks/feels like and ask them if we can have an indoor option available if we think it's too hot. If you have any thoughts I am happy to hear them. I still have a Zoom booking for 7.30pm if that is preferred.

Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Cx

Monday, December 4, 2023

Re: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Hi Catherine

I'm happy with either inside or out and will go with the flow.

Cheers

Sue

Sent from my iPhone

On 5 Dec 2023, at 5:52 pm, kathy korsch <kathykorsch@hotmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Catherine, I will leave it up to you to decide, I am happy to lunch either inside or out.

Thanks Kathy

Get Outlook for iOS

From: Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 5:17:32 PM
To: nola adcock <nola.adcock@gmail.com>; Sue Thompson new <thompson@grapevine.com.au>; Suzanne Thompson...book group <suzannet559@gmail.com>; Suzanne Thompson <suzanne.thompson58@gmail.com>; kathy korsch <kathykorsch@hotmail.com>; Judy Tokley new <judith.tokley@gmail.com>; Cathy Madden <cathy.madden665@gmail.com>; Cathy Madden <cathy.madden@iinet.net.au>; helen monro <helenmonro@gmail.com>; Catherine Cregan <catherineesmey.logan@blogger.com>
Subject: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Hi everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I booked a table for eight for tomorrow, in the outside area of Old Parliament House Cafe, with the aim of decreasing our chance of catching some of the bugs that seem to be going around at the moment.

However, I've just looked at the BOM forecast for tomorrow and it is predicting temperatures of around 33 degrees at the time we will be there. OPH cafe may have good, shady areas but I will call or visit them tomorrow morning to see what it looks/feels like and ask them if we can have an indoor option available if we think it's too hot. If you have any thoughts I am happy to hear them. I still have a Zoom booking for 7.30pm if that is preferred.

Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Cx

Re: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Thanks Catherine, I will leave it up to you to decide, I am happy to lunch either inside or out.

Thanks Kathy

Get Outlook for iOS

From: Catherine Cregan <catherinecregan@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 5:17:32 PM
To: nola adcock <nola.adcock@gmail.com>; Sue Thompson new <thompson@grapevine.com.au>; Suzanne Thompson...book group <suzannet559@gmail.com>; Suzanne Thompson <suzanne.thompson58@gmail.com>; kathy korsch <kathykorsch@hotmail.com>; Judy Tokley new <judith.tokley@gmail.com>; Cathy Madden <cathy.madden665@gmail.com>; Cathy Madden <cathy.madden@iinet.net.au>; helen monro <helenmonro@gmail.com>; Catherine Cregan <catherineesmey.logan@blogger.com>
Subject: Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Hi everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I booked a table for eight for tomorrow, in the outside area of Old Parliament House Cafe, with the aim of decreasing our chance of catching some of the bugs that seem to be going around at the moment.

However, I've just looked at the BOM forecast for tomorrow and it is predicting temperatures of around 33 degrees at the time we will be there. OPH cafe may have good, shady areas but I will call or visit them tomorrow morning to see what it looks/feels like and ask them if we can have an indoor option available if we think it's too hot. If you have any thoughts I am happy to hear them. I still have a Zoom booking for 7.30pm if that is preferred.

Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Book Group meeting 6th December, 12.30pm at Old Parliament House Cafe. Weather alert!

Hi everyone,

Looking forward to catching up with you all!

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Australia's Employment Services "holding back the entire economy"

The 30-year privatisation experiment with Australia's $9.5 billion employment services system should come to an end, a parliamentary inquiry into the sector has urged, finding the unemployed, employers and providers have been let down.

Headed by Labor MP Julian Hill, the inquiry found the current system – which contains the largest government contracts outside the Defence Department – was holding back the entire economy as it failed to properly train people or direct them to businesses that needed them while tying up employers in mountains of red tape.

An inquiry into the nation's employment services system has found it has failed all Australians.

CREDIT:BLOOMBERG

Instead of a network of private service providers overseen by a federal department, it said the government needed to be much more involved in ensuring services were available across the country.

Mutual obligation responsibilities would be retained for those on welfare but wound back in some cases, with the inquiry's report likening the current penalty system to "using a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito".

The employment services sector was privatised by the Howard government, but there has been growing criticism about the types of services provided and ongoing complaints that profit-driven providers fail to adequately support older, disadvantaged or long-term unemployed people.

Despite unemployment being under 4 per cent over the past year, almost 500,000 people use employment services for more than a year. Businesses have been complaining about a shortfall of suitably qualified workers since the reopening of the economy after COVID-related shutdowns.

Julian Hill said when it comes to employment services

Jobs

Private employment services have failed, watchdog is needed: Inquiry head

Hill said the current system, known as Workforce Australia, and its previous iterations were more focused on penalising people by keeping them off welfare than training them or matching them with potential jobs.

"It's harsh but true to say that Australia no longer has an effective, coherent national employment services system; we have an inefficient, outsourced, fragmented social security compliance management system that sometimes gets someone a job against all odds," he said.

"Mutual obligations need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach that ties the system up in red tape, drives employers away and makes people less employable, and be broadened and tailored to the individual."

The committee backed the continued use of mutual obligation on welfare recipients but said the current system – under which people lose access to payments for small breaches – was too onerous, both on those accessing welfare and businesses dealing with the paperwork around potential workers.

Unemployment increases to 3.7 per cent in October

Australia's unemployment rate has increased to 3.7 per cent in October as the number of unemployed people jumped by 28,000.

The report found more than 70 per cent of people going through Workforce Australia had their welfare payments suspended for breaching compliance regulations. Between 35 and 50 per cent of people whose payments had been suspended more than 10 times were Indigenous Australians.

Research from Anglicare Australia suggested up to 20 per cent of people had their payments suspended even though it was not their fault.

In one case heard by the inquiry, a woman attended an appointment with a service provider but it was not recorded. The following day, she received a text saying her welfare payment was being suspended, leaving her unable to pay her rent.

The inquiry heard from businesses about the failure of the current system to direct suitably qualified prospective workers in their direction. They also complained about the red tape involved in dealing with constant job applications from people unlikely to get a job.

Full time employment is starting to fall across the country as interest rates start to bite.

Jobs

Full-time jobs fall as interest rates start to bite

Among its 75 recommendations, the inquiry backed rebuilding the Commonwealth Employment Services system that was abolished in the mid-1990s. It would oversee the connection between jobseekers and employers but use the private sector to provide certain services.

A separate regulator would be created to oversee providers, research, data collection and complaints to deal with any issues that arise across the employment service sector.

Extra online support, job coaches, specialist youth employment services, targeted programs for Indigenous and non-English-speaking jobseekers, support services for employers and referrals for no-vocational barriers to work such as family violence and mental health issues were all proposed by the committee.

A common complaint heard by the inquiry was the lack of flexibility built into the contracts for employment service providers.

Opinion

Centrelink

The robo-debt disaster tale isn't over yet – here comes the prequel

Waleed Aly

Columnist, co-host of Ten's The Project and academic

In one case, a woman had to attend an appointment 30 minutes from her home in person every fortnight despite working 28 hours a week and not having any job search obligations. The requirement for in-person meetings was part of the official government contract.

The report found just 12,000 of the 20,000 people employed by employment service firms were engaged in frontline services. Staff spent more than 50 per cent of their time on administration rather than working with clients and employers.

It also found that while Australia spent around half the OECD average on employment services overall, it outlaid more than average on case management, job placements and administration of benefits such as JobSeeker.

Brotherhood of St Laurence executive director Travers McLeod said bold reform was needed to address the issues revealed by the inquiry.

"The Workforce Australia inquiry has confirmed Australia's employment services system is fundamentally broken and must be rebuilt," he said.

Centre for Policy Development deputy chief executive Annabel Brown said the inquiry had confirmed a completely outsourced employment service system had left people "doing it tough, out of sight and out of mind".

"Australians want a government that's an active, useful part of their local communities," she said.

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