And now I have to decide if I want to have a major punch-up with C*ntrelink.

The advocacy people are keen, they say they'll back me but aaargh..major punch up with C*ntrelink ... everything else that we'll need to do to make this work...phaphage factor warp 29475

I foresee a very, very busy next couple of months.

There are no fees involved in appealing but in reality it will cost us money. It just will. It's actually cheaper, in the short term, not to fight this. But there are long term consequences that could really suck if I don't. And there's a principal at stake, dammit!

Heh. But get this: according to the advocacy worker I spoke to, if you get to the top layer of appeals - the Administrative Appeals Tribunal - sometimes C*ntrelink make you an offer. My fellow Australians will understand my sense of absolute amazement at this news.

C*ntrelink...? Negotiating...? Making offers...? C*ntrelink....?!?

Oh my!

*picture goes all wavey and dream sequence starts*

~~~~

Splozza sits back in her chair as C*ntrelink's hotshot-looking legal team and a selection of significantly less hotshot-looking C*ntrelink senior adminstrative and policy officers file in. They remain standing but the floor is split-level so they are looking up at her.

"Right lads and lassies, what've you got for me?"

The first in the line opens a briefcase and there is the glitter of diamonds.

"Hmm. As agreed. Next!"

The second in line opens a briefcase full of printed forms. Splozza sits forward with a frown. "Which ones...?" she asks.

"Sole Parent's, Old Age and Newstart without any contractual obligations. Five each, yours in perpetuity."

"Yours in perpetuity...what?"

"Yours in perpetuity Ms Noodles, sir!"

"Right. Next!"

Third presents a series of brochures. Mostly just yachts and small tropical islands. Splozza yawns, nods and looks at number four.

Number four looks nervous. He is one of the less flash looking of the team, a Canberra based senior policy officer.

"I'd just like to say that I'm really sorry," he says. "I'm really very, very sorry. I'm so fucking sorry that sorry doesn't cut it. I'm sorrier than the guy that was driving the truck, I'm sorrier than Albert Einstein after Hiroshima, I'm sorrier than a very sorry thing on Sorry Day. To atone for my behaviour I have given all my money away to charity, have left my friends and family and have become a sannyassin, renouncing all worldly pleasures for the rest of my days and.....", he stops and gulps, unable to go on.

"...and...?" asks Splozza, radiating no sympathy whatsoever, "...we had a deal, remember?"

Number four fidgets. Splozza waits, her right eyebrow ever so slightly raised.

"...and...?" she asks quietly.

"...and I just drowned John Howard in Lake Burley Griffin".

Funnily enough, when he says this he smiles.







~~