This speech was given by Rita Sacchetta, Coordinator of the Northern Suburbs Branch, at our JobSeeker Rally, on May 21, 2023.
“Hello to everyone and thankyou for your solidarity.
We are here today because you promised, Albo, ‘No One Left Behind’.
Well, here we are, one year on, the ones you’ve left us behind.
I’m Rita. I’m part of the Anti-Poverty Network.
I lost my job in March 2019, and ever since, I’ve been living in abject poverty on Newstart/JobSeeker, getting sicker as every year goes by, culminating in a stroke, and now, a diagnosis which will end my life prematurely.
Today, I looked with dismay at the statistics and was heart broken by these numbers.
- Two dollars, eighty-six a day is the increase
- People 55-59 will get three dollars, fifty-seven a day
- No one will be lifted out of poverty with this raise
- Most people on Job Seeker will still be two hundred and fifty dollars a week below the poverty line
- Rent Assistance will be increased be one dollar, sixty-four a day, but only forty percent of people on Job Seeker will get Rent Assistance
Some people will say, well, it’s better than nothing.
No!!
‘Better than nothing’ does not pay the rent.
‘Better than nothing’ does not put food on the table.
‘Better than nothing’ does not buy insulin.
And you know what!?
I’m done with numbers.
I’m done with statistics.
I’m done with telling our stories.
We’ve been singing the same old for over a decade…and I’m done!!
You’re not hearing our words, maybe you’ll hear our actions.
We will be here on parliament steps.
We will be at your street meetings.
We will be in your offices.
We will be on social media.
We will be on your Facebook pages, your Twitter pages.
We will shame you.
We will make you uncomfortable.
We will keep asking questions and stating facts.
Until you squirm. Until you hear us. Until you give us life!! A livable income!! For everyone!!
You promised, Albo, No One Left Behind!!”
Anti-Poverty Network SA 