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The Forum > Article Comments > Protecting the most vulnerable > Comments

Protecting the most vulnerable : Comments

By Tristan Ewins, published 26/3/2009

There is a pressing need for pension reform and a moral imperative to provide dignity and quality of life for all.

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There should be reform, and also increase to unemployment benefit, but there would be such an uproar from business and the right it wouldn't even get up in parliament. I imagine the only change we will see will be like the recent rise in age pension, vote bribes for the grey set rather than well-balanced policy that protects ALL disadvantaged people and does not make a distinction about how they got there. By the way, pensioners are not most disadvantaged, only a few don't own their home, many have money in the bank and investments. so ease back on your whinging guys its only a small number of you that are genuinely vulnerable compared to the other poror.
Posted by Inner-Sydney based transsexual, indigent outcast progeny of merchant family, Thursday, 26 March 2009 1:21:28 PM
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the words pi**ing and wind come to mind tristan - not that I dont agree with you -

but no ones moves on a policy front unless there is an opportunity - (msybe Gahndi was an exception ) either to garner praise, win an electon, entrench a position - to look like you have done the right thing after a tragedy - wait and see the dust fly in the after math of the Bush Fire Royal Commission in Victoria - we will have policies regarding all manner of things fire tree and house related - they are already upon us in some instances -

Protection of the vulnerable and needy is a very low priority - culturally and politically - if the community doesnt care - neither will the policy makers - and sadly a whole lot of the community dont care at all
Posted by sneekeepete, Thursday, 26 March 2009 2:23:51 PM
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I think the CPSA (Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Society) makes a pretty good go at representing all pensioners - especially the most disavdvanged... The key, though - ultimately - is to mobilise the full breadth of the pensioner demographic.

It would be good to see the unemployed, disability pensioners, students - and others - mobilising in major cities in the run-up to the Budget...

The first step is solidarity... This can be expressed through publications, web-sites, petitions, public meetings, rallies, marginal seats campaigns...

And certainly I think 'GetUp' with (I think) around 300,000 members, could really 'get the ball rolling'... I might send them an email myself actually...

Don't give up on the broader pensioner demographic yet... There's still some while before the next Budget..

sincerely,

Tristan
Posted by Tristan Ewins, Thursday, 26 March 2009 3:22:32 PM
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Good article Tristan.
Might I suggest the greatest hurdle which desperately needs to be faced over the next few years of recessionary hardship, will be monetary reform.
Credit cards are going to max out. Most of these people may have bought a TV or DVD on these cards sometime in the past, but now they just buy groceries with them. The way these things are set up, this means they will effectively be paying up to 19% interest on food and necessities.
This is outrageous. Interest payments are nothing more or less than a penalty for being poor, paid to the rich.
Posted by Grim, Friday, 27 March 2009 5:09:43 AM
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sneekeepete ....Why do you think anything will happen after the current Royal Commission .........nothing happened after the last five ?
The big problem with Bush Fires is they are not an annual event so easily forgotten by our community and those charged with a response .
6 bad fires since 1923 compared at a Political level to the Road Toll Fires are a non event .

The General Public has absolutely no interest , for example , in Bendigo a Home in Hargreaves ST. one of the main city access Streets has a house totally surrounded by dead shrubs , trees and vines on timber trellis fixed to the timber fence and House , difficult to estimate the weight prob. 3 to 4 tons not counting the abundant dead weeds plus the weather board house !
The Golden Square Fire Brigade is approx opposite over the Bendigo Crk the Mayors House is about 3 Chain down Hargreaves St opposite .
How is this possible ? Only a drunk with a cig. butt is reqd for more tragedy and awe , more fodder for the feel sorry brigade another POP concert the only response .
Either there is no one charged with fire assessment in Bendigo ?
Or someone has forgotten their job description .
Posted by ShazBaz001, Friday, 27 March 2009 9:29:25 AM
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Readers who claim most aged pensioners are 'well off' might get something from the excerpt below as well...+

see:

http://www.apo.org.au/webboard/comment_results.chtml?filename_num=266245

"Recent research has found a substantial proportion of older Australians living in poverty (23.9 per cent), but the poverty rate for single older people – at 46.5 per cent in 2008–09 – is the highest of any group. Many of these are living on government benefits (about 73 per cent of them), with little or no ability to supplement their income through part time work. This means it is imperative to ensure that the benefit provided to single aged pensioners provides an adequate standard of living."
Posted by Tristan Ewins, Friday, 27 March 2009 10:02:37 AM
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