The virus- Support for all and a people’s economy

It is generally acknowledged that Australia is facing an unprecedented deadly virus that so gravely impacts people’s lives and livelihoods.

Although thankful for short measures taken to save lives and minimise the economic burdens, with an equally unprecedented people’s response, the pandemic is far from being over and the dangers of  its re-emergence  is ever present both in Australia and in the world. A return to ‘normality’ should be determined by the health experts and not by the dictates of sectional financial and political interests.

There is much more to do right now to ensure that healthcare and income supplements leave no one in need without, and the post virus economy works for the people. That democratic, union and workers rights are not further eroded and proposed legislation to this end must be abandoned.

The public health system that was called on and relied upon to deal with the virus emergency, underfunded, ill-equipped and under staffed, even in the best of times, must get the support it needs to do a better job right now and in the future.

Retirement homes mostly privately owned – are fertile grounds for the spread of the virus- and found by a royal commission last year to be negligent in the care for older people, should be subject to strict monitoring for compliance with health policies, or closed down if unable to do so.

Strict health and safety steps should be taken for people living in highly congested environments such as housing commission flats, pigeonhole like high rise units, migrant and refugee detention centres, jails and the homeless, areas of Aboriginal residence.

The $130 billion income support paid and to be paid by the public purse, must cover the two million casual and visa workers, who are left out in the cold. The prime minister’s dictum to visa holders to pack up and go home is unjust, inhuman and certainly not practical.

There are also 3 million people – mostly elderly and migrants -who cannot access electronically payments and fall over the hurdles of bureaucratic remote communication. Centrelink offices must provide for efficient face to face service and multilingual on the spot facilities. If it is necessary and I believe it is, to have  deaf language communicators at the daily government and health officials media  reports, why not something appropriate for millions of Australians who do not have English as their first language. Ethnic minority representatives should be consulted and listened to of how best to achieve this.

The $750 once off payment to pensioners is blatantly inadequate. It does not compensate for the real cost of living, just to name electricity alone in the lock-down period and the winter ahead. Pensions for all Centrelink recipients should be increased by $100 per week and utility concessions-electricity, gas, water, etc-which have been static at 17% for decades to be raised to 20%.

With unemployment expected to rich depression like proportions this year, the need for investing in socially useful infrastructure and manufacturing projects is more important and urgent than ever, for  secure and well paid jobs, and intelligent use of Australia’s rich resources. Unemployment payments should never return to $40 a day.

We cannot afford to leave the ‘planning for after the virus’ to big business and their Government, for as usual they want the working class, the pensioners and unemployed to carry the can. The sweet talk ‘we are all in the same  boat together’ hides the fact the boat has first, second and third class passengers and the captain is the same one who brought  it to  this catastrophic end, well  before the virus explosion. The rich and the poor are not affected the same.

As individuals or representatives of working class organisations and vulnerable social  sectors, we need to argue with words and  mass actions that the over $200 billion economy recovery debt comes out of the $135 billion proposed tax cuts for the rich, the billions of dollars of hand outs to the very well cashed up retirees and others, the speculative developers and the sacred cows of horrendous  war machines .

Australia has never before been so extensively involved in the affairs of other countries, spreading death and misery, making enemies, instead of being an advocate of peace and friendship.

The ‘new’ economy should work for the people ,that is the historic call of our times and only the people, of all ethnic backgrounds, acting in united action, through their labor movement  and  other social organisations can ensure this call is answered.

 

– George Zangalis

Vice President Fair Go For Pensioners Coalition (Vic)

Retired President Public Transport Union. (Vic)