Speech given by Anti-Poverty Network SA member, Lester, at our ‘No One Left Behind’ Campaign Launch, on March 1, 2025.
My name is Lester Tyley and I’ve been very kindly invited to say a few words concerning the upcoming election and a few issues that have a great deal of personal meaning to myself, and I’m sure many here: namely the Jobseeker rate or welfare payment rates in general, and housing – more specifically, the utter lack of public, community and low cost housing and rental properties, as well as the skyrocketing cost of rent.
First up though, I’ll just give you a bit about my background. I’m fairly sure many of you may well have heard my story before.
I gave a similar talk some months back for Pas and the Anti-Poverty Network, and I’ve also been interviewed by The Advertiser and Today Tonight or maybe A Current Affair about very much the same issues that bring us all here today.
Which are, I guess, to try and come up with ideas on just what needs to change and how we can be heard by those we will all soon be heading to the polls to elect, and theoretically at least, enact our will.
So my story is, very briefly, of someone who has suffered a change of circumstances across many aspects of their life, and who now finds themselves living in rental accommodation, as a cancer survivor, while trying to study and establish a new life for themselves. A life funded only
by welfare and an extremely diminished savings and superannuation balance.
And it is happening to everyday people, people whose lives have already been upended by tragedy, illness and maybe abuse. People who need help and are at their wits end with grief and dismay…
Increasingly it’s happening to the elderly and older Australians who have contributed all their lives to society, only to find that when they are at their most needful, society does not need them.
As we head into this next election cycle, I find myself turning my mind to what I might find most beneficial on a personal level…what might I want, in an ideal world, to come about in a post election Australia.
What would have the greatest effect upon my wellbeing?
Two things immediately spring to mind:
1: An immediate doubling to welfare payments across the board. We did it during Covid, and what a difference it made.
2: A building program of low income and community housing, not just another funding arrangement. But actual residences built and ready for use and available for those on an as needed basis.
Not for purchase as an investment, not for mum & dad investors to claim their cut of
the Negative Gearing pie…. But for people who are in genuine need. So that no one
needs to consider a car or box on the street as a viable option.
They now cannot afford to stay where they have been for years and do not know
where to turn to for help?
Cost of living crisis How about calling it all out for what it is. Homelessness, lack of
affordable and community housing availability and welfare payment levels that
don’t cover the most basic of needs. How about doing that instead of pushing out
another meaningless sound grab from an out of touch Prime Minister or an
Opposition Leader who simply couldn’t care less.
Thankyou all for hearing me out.
Be kind & take care.
Anti-Poverty Network SA 