Letter to the Editor of The Morning
Bulletin 16/05/2014
During the election campaign Ms. Landry reassured voters that she knew what it was like to struggle. She could empathise with battlers and she understood their plight. I now wonder if Ms. Landry’s understanding of ‘battler’ is the same as mine and many others in this community.
After the budget announcement, I turned my thoughts to the people who make up this great community that I grew up in. Ms. Landry’s Government’s focus is to treat with extreme harshness, the disadvantaged in this community. People under 25 will not receive any assistance, unless they are enrolled in a study or employed. If they don’t they will have no income. Food, clothing and shelter will not be a viable option. No money to even purchase personal hygiene products. No money to give them even a skerrick of dignity.
According to the 2011 census data, in Capricornia we have 19,786 people between 15 and 25. Of the 13 253 Young people in the Labour force, 1,149 are jobseekers. That is an 8.4% youth unemployment rate in Capricornia, based on 2011 figures. However TMB reported in February that the current youth unemployment figure is 13.6% for 15 – 24 year olds. Therefore the following figures would be expectedly worse based on current data. If we look at entry level jobs, according to vacancy data for March for CQ, there were 949 vacancies across, entry level jobs. Even if this group were all job-ready (which many are not) and secured a job, 200 young people in this region would have no income at all. However, this group are competing with 1,905 unemployed persons across other age brackets, who most likely have more experience. Therefore, hundreds of Capricornian young people will be destitute, homeless and starving.
Census data for 2011 stated that 3060 were seeking work in Capricornia and the vacancy figures for CQ for March show there were 2433 vacancies, across all areas. Considering 1466 of these vacancies are for experienced and qualified jobseekers, this makes the employment search for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged a terrifying impossibility for some. I never thought I would ever live in a country where the Government imposes poverty on its citizens. Ms. Landry, you are a part of that and the people who voted for you are also now part of that. Albeit inadvertently. If you had been honest with this electorate about these cuts, would LNP still hold this seat today?
Could TMB interview Ms. Landry about what she is going to do for people in this community who will fall down the cracks and live in abject poverty? What are her plans for job creation? How will she respond to the increase in need to access charity services? How will she respond if the crime rate goes up? What do the victims of this budget focus on as their hope, when all hope is taken away?
Our only real hope is if the Senate blocks supply and this vindictive, cruel and heartless Government is dissolved and we go back to the polls.
The Red Window 
Indeed. And so while I acknowledge the total unpredictability of Clive and friends, I hope that keep the pot stirring and get the DD I’m told he seeks. In fact, BRING IT ON.
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Posted by M-R | July 11, 2014, 9:05 pmHear, hear, Trish – well said. As M.R. has remarked, we can only hope that the minor parties in the Senate continue to pledge solidarity with the Greens and reject this Budget along with all it stands for.
In September 2013, I made the prediction that Abbott would only last eighteen months as leader of the LNP and I would love to be a fly on the wall in the party room at the moment – the rank and file must be getting very nervous about their continued existence after 2016. I’d say a spill around Feb – March next year.
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Posted by edward eastwood | July 11, 2014, 9:24 pmSorry, meant to include Labor in the solidarity block. 🙂 🙂
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Posted by edward eastwood | July 11, 2014, 9:25 pmI hope this Govt is dissolved. They are truly abhorrent and taking Australia in a direction that will take a long time to fix. Whether it is Abbott or someone else, their entire ideology is sick. I hope Campbell Newman gets kicked out at that time as well. Hopefully it will be a double celebration. I think if everyone polled said they would vote for PUP and the stats were high for his party, he would use his power in the senate to try to force the Govt to an election.
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Posted by trishcorry | July 11, 2014, 9:56 pmExcellent post Trish. There needs to much more said and done about his disgusting state of affairs, both national and state. It makes me sad to see the way things have gone with Abbot and Newman. If we as Australians do not stand up about this we should all hangs our heads in shame.
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Posted by Wayne Ritchie | July 11, 2014, 10:49 pmThanks Wayne and I 100% agree
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Posted by trishcorry | July 11, 2014, 11:46 pmTrish, the only comment that I would add is that you send your letters to all available news outlets including news ltd, and fairfax press so that they have the widest possible chance of making the public aware of your and our position on fairness, you write very well.
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Posted by townsvilleblog | July 17, 2014, 9:26 amI’ve never thought of that. Thanks for the compliment.
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Posted by trishcorry | July 17, 2014, 5:48 pm