Many people ‘doing it tough’ for decades
In Australia we have a totally inconsistent attitude to poverty.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Many farmers are suffering as a result of drought now. They are called "tough", and "resilient", and no doubt they are. This admiration translates into rescue packages. They deserve it, don't they?
Many single parents, disabled people, retrenched or ill workers, and indigenous communities have been “doing it tough” for decades. Howard and Gillard decided to cut spending and promote the GFC recovery off the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable in society. Subsequent governments have been only too happy to let the Newstart, and other benefits, remain static, thus forcing thousands of Australian children into poverty. In addition, punitive measures deprive people living on the margins of their scant stipend and their dignity, and force them to desperate measures. We see this on our streets every day. They are called “dole bludgers”, “a drain on society”, not admirable battlers at all. It seems these people do not merit even a rise of $75 per week which would cost the public purse $3 billion per year. But ACOS estimates $1 billion of that would flow immediately back into local economies.
Scott Morrison has promised $5 billion for drought stricken farmers and rural communities. This emergency measure is welcome, but let’s hope that a good proportion of that money is quarantined to ensure/insist that farmers take out drought insurance for their businesses. Other small business owners e.g. manufacturers, hairdressers, doctors, lawyers etc. have to buy income insurance, and it only makes sense that farmers should too. In the USA 80 per cent of farmers hold such insurance, thus relieving the public purse in times of climatic difficulty. Not so here.
A Federal election is looming. Now is your time to insure that our society raises the wages of those people in poverty, if for no other reason than it should help keep homes viable, and raise thousands of children out of poverty.
This is an obvious and reasonable step for one of the richest countries in the world, and would be a good start to redressing our inconsistent attitude to poverty.
Wendy Radford, Mandurang South
Shocked at ‘vicious attack’ on Pittsburg church
We too at the Bendigo Inter-Faith Council are shocked at the vicious attack and wanton killing of members of the Tree of life Progressive Jewish Congregation earlier this weekend the American city of Pittsburgh. It beggars belief that people can wander around carrying literally weapons of mass destruction.
Our world jumps at many infringement of violations of all sorts of rights , animal ,vegetable or mineral . We have more than enough evidence of acts against people practising their religion. They too must have their rights protected .
The Bendigo InterFaith Council includes members of the Gold- Fields Congregation of Progressive Judaism . We express our deepest sympathy to them and trust that our community will join our interfaith council in conveying our full support to them at this time.
Monsignor Frank Marriott, Chairman, Bendigo InterFaith Council
Read more: Rabbis urge compassion after massacre