Hi Friends Wizz Williams invited me to post this to your page, and of course I am happy to do that. Open Letter urgently appealing to the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader prior to the 7/9/2013 Federal Election (Letters were, of course, were addressed separately, not as copied here) Dear Mr Rudd/Mr Abbott, I am writing to appeal to you to think of the most impoverished people in our Australian community. At election time, reform agendas seem to be set. In all the talk about issues which are on the agenda, one group which has not been thought of, or indeed cared for, for many years needs a much greater place in our minds, and indeed, our hearts. I recently watched a Four Corners programme which was broadcast on July 1, 2013. I had been unable to watch it for some weeks after it was shown on ABC television as I knew that I would find it very upsetting. This programme talked about the lives of five people who were ‘getting by’ in the depths of poverty. I use the term ‘getting by’, as it can hardly be called living. The programme was in response to the release of an ACOSS Report published on the same day. By the end of the Four Corners programme, I was in tears. If we are human beings, we should all share this response, and if all parliamentarians have not watched this programme, they certainly should. People who live in this poverty, as well as the workers who try to support them through a range of community-based organizations providing weekly hot meals, help with housing, emergency financial help and other support, face a daily battle. This is a battle that some people have not experienced, but that is only a matter of luck. One of the most distressing aspects of their struggle is seeing these men and women develop such deep despair about themselves, their families and their lives. They are truly living on the edge, some homeless or constantly on the edge of homelessness, trying to fit into a mould which is required of them without even the basic resources to start. For example, a woman who was only in her thirties was trying to cope with the requirements of the Newstart Allowance, which was completely inadequate for her basic survival, while sleeping in her car at night, and having to arrange for her teenage daughter to stay with other people. The most tragic thing about this young woman was that she could see no hope for herself in the future and felt completely worthless. She was in complete despair and sounded like she had really given up on life. We need to be helping people like this, and the others described in the Four Corners programme. Unfortunately this group of people represent about two million people, including over half a million children. WE SHOULD BE DEEPLY ASHAMED OF THESE STATISTICS IN AUSTRALIA. Statistics which show this trend abound: Since 2001, child poverty rates in Australia have considerably increased. Suicide rates have increased. Mental health crises are more common. There is little data which links suicide rates, for example, with homelessness or poverty, but it seems clear that treating our poorest citizens with such lack of care and concern would inevitably add to the despair and sense of worthlessness already being felt by this group. As a community, we look to you, our representatives in Parliament, to look beyond party politics, and take a stand on these issues. We need a bi-partisan approach to these issues, as there was for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme. In Great Britain, both sides of politics have made a commitment to make important social security and social welfare reforms: this matter is too important to be only of importance to one side of politics. As concerned members of the community, if we have only one child educated up to the end of secondary school, only one suicide prevented, only one person kept from homelessness, then that is necessary and worthwhile. We need to do better for the increasing numbers of people who are being relegated to dire poverty in Australia: people whose lives can be transformed by a broad commitment to put the issue of poverty back on the agenda. This needs to be our first priority in a country like Australia. The attitude which takes the view that if you are in this situation, it is somehow your ‘fault’, is inappropriate and harmful. It is an attitude which compounds the already heavy burden faced by people living in poverty. So my appeal to you is, if elected, will you and your party undertake to look at this issue, fully and honestly? Will you rise above party politics and look at the truth of this matter? I undertake to spend all of my remaining years on earth seeing fairness returned to the system of social and income support that we had in the 1970s and even in the 1940s, when we did not spend our time blaming disabled war veterans, or their widows and children, but supported them appropriately, through a combination of policy measures like education, housing and income support. My own parents, both World War II veterans, benefited from these measures. It is time we put aside narrow thinking and looked towards building a society that we will be proud of in the 21st Century. Please think about this. I would be very pleased to receive an early reply, but would understand if your reply was delayed until after the election. My appeal to you remains timely, however, and I look forward to your reply. Yours in hope, Susan Barclay References: ACOSS Paper No 192 ‘Surviving, not living’ Submission to Senate Employment Committee on the adequacy of ‘allowance’ payments August 2012 ACOSS Paper 202 Australian Community Sector Survey 2013: National Report July 2013 National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Have a Heart Campaign August 2013
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 05:21:10 +0000
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