Friends of Fair Go For Pensioners are among those saddened by the passing of David Gragg. He was a member of our current Executive Committee. Before, this served for many years as the delegate of the Victorian Trades Hall Council on our Steering Committee.

Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

David didn’t just appear on the scene. His journey begun when he joined the Federated Ironworkers Association at Titan Nails, s BHP company, at Port Melbourne. He became an active unionist, and this led to his election as an official in the Australian Workers Union in 1991. From 2009 t0 2018, he served as the elected Assistant Secretary of the Australian Trades Hall Council.

David gave a lifetime of service to the union movement, and his efforts for age pensioners were a continuation of this service. He was enthusiastic, a fighter and capable of listening and working well with others, even those who did not share all his views. David operated as part of a team.

Over the years, and even in his retirement, David put special attention into fighting for better workers compensation for all injured at work.

During his time as Trades Halll Council Secretary, he served as the Council’s representative of the Sterring Committee of Fair Go For Pensioners. After his retirement in 2018, he remained active in Fair Go For Pensioners and became an active member of our Executive Committee.

David was known for his keen interest and knowledge of union history.

For instance, he played an important role in the current campaign for a better age pension, taking the issue into the union movement, the Labor Party, and more broadly than this. He felt that serious action was needed to address the cost-of-living crisis and the need for millions of Australians for decent and affordable housing.

Although hr had a private funeral, his wake at Trades Hall in Melbourne attracted a big crowd of unionists, politicians, and others. The turnout was a testimony to the high regard for him.
David will be seriously missed by all who knew him. He will no be forgotten.

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Oh that’s right, those self-defined battlers bringing home over $200,000 a year as Martin reports. 

Andrew Clennell reports that households are to pay up to $400 a year more for power from 1 July 2017 because of a 50 per cent increase in the wholesale electricity price.

Over here in the real world yet another cost of living blow to low-income earners bringing home $36,134.80 (before tax) a year and recipients on income support payment as little as $15,000 (includes rental allowance) a year living below the poverty line on Newstart Allowance.

What this means for individuals and families living in poverty or at high risk of poverty is a life of unrelenting hardship and for some the final straw: pushed into poverty or into deepening poverty.  See below.

As FGFP has reported over the years below is the reality and we continue to campaign against poverty including producing a Victorian Anti-Poverty recommendations statement as a contribution towards a Victorian Anti-Poverty Strategy.  As VCOSS reports, over 1 million Victorians were either living in poverty or just above it. Learn more:

• No jobs for all – tough live in poverty
• No money for rent – out on the street
• No money for food – don’t eat
• No money for power bills – live in the dark 58,500 Victorian customers were disconnected for non-payment of energy bills in 2013-14.
• No money for cloths – wear rags
• No money for the doctor – stay sick
• No money for school books – can’t learn
• No money for petrol – walk

tell that to people trying to get to work and those from regional and rural Victoria   trying to go about their daily lives

• No money for public transport – walk

tell that to Centrelink clients trying to get to appointments on time without being    docked income support.

• You cannot accumulate superannuation for retirement if you are: –          unemployed or

–  can only find low paid casual work or

–  labour hire by the day or week.

ACT NOW by joining FGFPs 2017 Anti-Poverty Campaign.  Distribute FGFP contribution towards a Victorian Anti-Poverty Strategy, distribute FGFP website and Facebook , spread the word, talk to your local Member of Parliament, ring your local radio station, photocopy an article and send to your community newspaper, arrange talks in your local community, and get involved including becoming a member of FGFP Victoria.

The post Who can live with soaring costs of living? appeared first on Fair Go For Pensioners.

Fair Go for Pensioners (FGFP) Coalition Victoria Incorporated is an independent non-profit coalition of community-based organisations and individuals bringing together ethnic groups, community advocacy groups and service providers and unions advocating for social justice for pensioners and other low income groups such as single parents and their children, renters of all housing types and the unemployed marginalised by financial hardship and poverty.

FGFP thanks the Australian Government and this Committee for the opportunity to be heard and for our views to be expressed.

FGFP Response

FGFP believes in Freedom of Speech as an important right but not without restriction when one right must give way to another. Current examples of limitations include cases of libel, defamation, sexual discrimination, disability discrimination and racial discrimination.

FGFP believes that the current Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) under sections 18C and 18D provides necessary protections against racial vilification and incitement to racial hatred and should not be weakened.

Historically, Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders and migrants have been subjected to brutal and inhumane levels of racial vilification, incitement to hatred and intimidation and our laws to protect and prohibit racist bigotry and harm must be defended not weakened.

The free speech arguments being used to make amendments to Section 18C of the RDA are in fact covered under Section 18D so it is not clear why such amendments are proposed.

FGFP also believes celebrating our diversity promotes greater civility in society and Section 18C of the RDA does combat racist elements that have no place in a civil society.

view PDF version of the document by clicking  on the link below.

Submission to Parliamentary Inquiry December’16 (1)

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