Speech given by Anti-Poverty Network SA member, Mel, at Spence Candidates Forum, March 22, 2025.
I grew up in poverty with a single disabled mum in public housing (where have I heard that before?), became her carer at 12 years old I did that for 22 years until she passed and I was tossed aside by the government to suffer on JobsSeker. I say suffer because poverty is suffering. Politicians hear the word poverty all the time, but most don’t understand what that means so I’m going to share the brutal truth.
Its being hungry during the day but knowing you must ration your food to last a fortnight so skipping meals I usually try to just cut breakfast and lunch because if you’ve ever tried to sleep on an empty stomach its not a nice feeling. Its not going to the doctors because you can’t afford transport or the doctors or the scripts, they may write so you end up in hospital instead. Its being isolated because you can’t afford to catch up with friends for a coffee.
It’s getting diagnosed with scurvy and malnutrition because you’ve been living on pasta bread and noodles.
It’s tooth aches and loosing teeth because you can’t afford a dentist.
It’s losing any shred of self esteem that you once had.
It’s deciding between bus fare or a loaf of bread.
It’s going without new underwear and socks.
It’s sickness and constantly feeling tired because you have no energy.
It’s having to use folded up toilet paper for wound care because you’ve run out of dressings.
It’s not being able to afford easter eggs Christmas presents or anything holiday related that so many take for granted.
It’s receiving another rent increase and realising that it will leave you homeless.
It’s iron infusions because meat is too expensive.
It’s seeing disappointment on a kids face because you don’t have money for a bday gift so they can attend a bday invitation from one of their classmates.
It’s stressing daily about how you’re going to eat rent and keep your electricity on.
It’s people looking down on you or worse paternalising, you as if you are not an adult and you cannot make choices on your own.
It’s receiving a huge debt from Centrelink that you never owed.
It’s getting your payment suspended unlawfully.
It’s jumping through hoops for private job networks who get paid more then you do to crack the whip and make sure you are doing what the govt says. The same govt that leaves you behind.
If any one is uncomfortable with the scenarios I’ve just described imagine how those of us in poverty feel Over 3 million people in Australia experience all of this on some level more and more people are becoming homeless and yet we keep electing gets and politicians that fail to act. I say no more!.
We need to elect governments who will govern for all and will fight for us. Australia is a wealthy country and poverty is a policy choice.
To the candidates that came today. Let me say thank you for coming and listening to our stories and concerns but listening isn’t enough we need action.
Anti-Poverty Network SA 