This speech was given by Matthew Briggs, a high school student, and Anti-Poverty Network SA member, to our JobSeeker Rally, on May 21, 2023.
“Hello, my name is Matt, I’m a 17-year-old high school student in the northern suburbs and I’m currently on the away from home rate of Youth Allowance.
I’m here to share my view on what many here feel, that this rate increase is not enough.
This minuscule raise (although a welcome one) will mean virtually nothing to not just my budget, but also my future.
It will be almost impossible for me to find a home when I finish high school without having to share with 1, 2 or even 3 other people, a lot of places near where I live are approaching 500$ a week, some even more.
I shouldn’t have to focus on either looking for a better job which offers more hours or end up moving back in with my mother nearly 1,500 kilometers away, these thoughts shouldn’t plague me while I’m still in high school.
And when it comes goods prices, believe me I work casually in retail I’ve seen the sometimes-double digit percentage increase of prices from milk to beef.
I say in conclusion to Albo, Jim Chalmers and other government officials, I hope one day soon you can live up to your promise of no one left behind and raise the rate!
Thank you for listening.”
Anti-Poverty Network SA 