Radio host Ben Fordham has told an unemployed dole recipient to ‘get a job’ – prompting a foul-mouthed reply.
The 2GB breakfast host unleased on ‘dole bludgers’ on his show, while sharing the stories of everyday Aussies also angry at recent hikes to JobSeeker payments.
He called out Jez Heywood, 47, president of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union, who had previously said he was ‘angry and annoyed’ by the welfare payments not being raised high enough.
Fordham issued a scathing message to Mr Heywood on Friday.
‘Jez says you have to weigh up every financial decision you make. Why don’t you weigh up getting a job? Any job? Because we’re here to tell you there are half a million of them available right now,’ he fumed.
The rant sparked a furious response from Mr Heywood.
Ben Fordham called out Jez Heywood (pictured), president of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union, who had previously said he was ‘angry and annoyed’ by the welfare payments not being raised high enough
‘Hey, Ben Fordham you f***ing gronk, don’t just take a cowardly swipe from the comfort of your studio, call me up and let’s have a chat,’ Mr Heywood tweeted.
‘Have me on your show you coward.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Heywood for comment.
The row came after Treasurer Jim Chalmers this week announced a range of measures to benefit those on welfare.
The Budget saw JobSeeker and Youth Allowance both rising by $40 a fortnight from September.
Eligibility for a higher rate of JobSeeker will also be lowered from 60 to 55, following a rise in the number of older Australians on the payment.
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Ben Fordham (pictured with wife Jodie) unleased on ‘dole bludgers’ on his 2GB show, while sharing the stories of everyday Aussies angry at JobSeeker payment hikes
The plans have triggered fierce debate as Fordham weighed into the controversy.
‘When it comes to helping these people they barely get a crumb. All of the help went to people already getting help. And this is what the workers are saying to us,’ he said.
‘People are angry. They want to support people who are unable to work or people between jobs. But they cannot cop the never ending handouts to people who choose to sit at home and we know that there are some of them. More than some.’
Fordham then called out Mr Heywood for doing a newspaper interview slamming the JobSeeker raises.
‘There’s a bloke called Jez, who’s popped up in the Australian newspaper. He’s a 47- year-old unemployed graphic designer. He hasn’t had a job in six years,’ he said.
‘And Jez says he’s unimpressed with the government’s job seeker increase. He wants more. He says and I quote, ‘I’m angry, annoyed. This is nothing, absolutely nothing’.’
The Budget saw JobSeeker and Youth Allowance both rising by $40 a fortnight from September (pictured, queues outside Centrelink on the Gold Coast)
Mr Heywood who has been unemployed since 2017 and has limited job options due to health conditions, said the extra $2.85 a day was so small it makes ‘no difference’.
‘I’m angry, annoyed – this is nothing, absolutely nothing,’ Mr Heywood told The Australian.
‘The government commissioned a study that said significant increases were needed and they’ve ignored it.’
