Thread by @antipovertycent

Now we're going to hear more from real experts.

People actually experiencing poverty will give statements, followed by Lisa Courtney from the Murray Mallee GP Network.

Thank you and solidarity to all sharing their expertise ❤️✊ #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

https://twitter.com/antipovertycent/status/1602438563945385986?s=20&t=OAzJYPnVDZkQ3UrbeUV_vA

First up, Jennifer.

“I have been living on Centrelink most ofmy life. It started because my partner left and I was left to raise children on my own. Back then it was supportable to rent and feed my children. It was a struggle but doable.” #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“Indexation to payments has not kept up for anybody. I became the victim of homelessness because and it was legal. My landlord just decided. I had nowhere to go and an 8 year old. I took him on 'holiday' and he didn't know we were homeless.” – Jennifer #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“My son who is now 24 is still experiencing homelessness. This is normal to him. It is the only thing he knows.” – Jennifer #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I got all the answers everyone else gets. I have a car to sleep in, so I'm not homeless. I have a roof over my head in the government's and the services' opinion. I spent 8 years in my car because I couldn't find anywhere to live.” – Jennifer #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I got lots of jobs while I was homeless, but as soon as they found out, I lost my job. Didn't matter to them that I was turning up every day.” – Jennifer #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

Next we will hear from Rita.

“Since 2019 I've been living in abject poverty. I have lost 50 kilos, I've had a stroke, I've lost my teeth and I've been diagnosed with community acquired malnutrition. I'm now unemployable.” – Rita #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“That's all I'm going to tell you about myself because I'm tired of telling my story and nobody hearing it.” – Rita #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“Poverty is about more than just living on $40 a day. Poverty is a political choice. It is about being a woman having to wear rags when you have your period because you can't afford pads or tampons. Going to interviews bleeding through your pants.” – Rita #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“Poverty is your son being homeless not being able to help him. It is eating out of dumpsters. It is about being isolated and housebound because you can't afford the bus.” – Rita #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“Poverty is having to look for work feeling hungry and nauseous because you haven't eaten for 4 days. It's not being able to replace your glasses – I can't see any of you. It is rationing life saving medication until you've had a stroke.” – Rita #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“Now to dispel the myth that poverty is our fault. It's not. YOU CHOOSE TO KEEP US IN POVERTY. YOU CHOOSE TO KEEP US HOMELESS. YOU CHOOSE TO KEEP US HUNGRY. YOU CHOOSE TO KEEP US MALNOURISHED. It is a political choice.” – Rita #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

Next up is Sarah.

“We tell our story hundreds of times in different interviews, different groups, hoping something will change. And we're losing hope.” #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“There are 100s of 1000s of people in this country who see no point to life. And that's wrong.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I can't get a job now, because of mental health, back issues, I'm 56. That seems to be a disability. I've been pretty much written off by my government.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“Rita & I just put on an event on the weekend & fed over 100 people struggling just like us. On our own. With no resources. It's just really sad the government doesn't see what it's losing – the potential of people living in poverty every day.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“So many kids are watching their parents fall apart because they can't provide them with basic needs. They have to go to be school and be shamed by other kids.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“We feel like we're at war with our government and we really don't know why it's ok for so many people to have their being destroyed by poverty.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“We are losing the potential of generations of people simply because there's no political will. We're too ashamed to speak up. This is not something that I wanted.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“This is not something that I wanted. I spent my whole life working helping other people. I worked as an assistant for members of parliament and yet now I'm invisible. I don't matter to my government. I don't matter to just about everybody.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I just want you to do something about it. Make this matter.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“That's all I wanted to say. We do matter. And we are here. And we deserve better.” – Sarah #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

Next up is Neola – folks I'm sorry I have no idea about the spelling here.

Going to guess "Nijole"

“I'm at university part-time living on JobSeeker. I have endometriosis. This last year has been incredibly difficult for me.” – Nijole #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I have wanted to quit study so many times this year even though I'm on the final stretch because I couldn't afford lunch.” – Nijole #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I don't like telling you this. I don't enjoy vomiting out my personal depressing details but I guess I have to so you get an understanding of what people have to deal with.” – Nijole #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I approached the welfare section at uni and was given a voucher for a food charity. I went to use it and didn't realise that I had to pay for it. I had no money.” – Nijole #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I'm not eating rotten onions. And I'm not going to feel grateful for being given rotten food.” – Nijole #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I would put to you: How am I supposed to reach my potential and get a good grade if I can't afford a sandwich? How can I function if the most basic things are so laden with administration, exhaustion, and on top of having to talk to a job agency.” – Nijole #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“I would ask you to think, when you talk about increasing payments, do you want people to not have kids? Do you want people to not afford medication? Do you want people to quit university? To give up? Cos that's what happens when you're poor.” – Nijole #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

Thank you so much to the legends who spoke up for all of us, and to everyone who is listening.

Next up is Lisa Courtney from Murray Mallee GP Network.

“Mental ill health maintains poverty a lot of the time.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“You can be as good at making a coffee as you like, but you can't necessarily maintain a job if you don't have a sense of agency [and other trauma effects].” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“Employers remit is to make a profit. It's not to build people's confidence after a period of abuse or trauma.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“You might be able to work 15 hours a week, but where's the employer who will give you 3 hours a day because that's what you can do?” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“People don't choose to be on unemployment payments, but they have no other choice.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

“We're not funded based on need, we're funded based on population.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

Lisa Courtney explaining the problem with resourcing for locations with higher levels of disadvantage than other areas.

Can you expand on what you mean by a holistic approach in an ideal world? @janet_rice

“@Kerrynne_Liddle asked earlier who has overarching responsibility? No one does. You're homeless. OR you have mental ill health.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

@janet_rice @Kerrynne_Liddle “You aren't necessarily going to maintain a job if your trauma hasn't been addressed. And it's slow going.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

@janet_rice @Kerrynne_Liddle “Politicians need education to understand why people act the way they do and why triggers happen.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

@janet_rice @Kerrynne_Liddle Is there increasing need? @janet_rice

“Yes. We get 50–70 mental health plan referrals a month, sometimes as many as 90.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

@janet_rice @Kerrynne_Liddle We seem to have another person who cannot see a connection between poverty and the need for mental health support.

Apparently increasing demand for mental health support is because we've become a more individualistic and consumerist society. #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

@janet_rice @Kerrynne_Liddle Thank god @janet_rice has asked directly.

“A lack of money limits choices. Poverty puts you in a social situation where you're potentially exposed more to violence. If you have a mental health issue you have less ability to earn.” – Murray Mallee GP Network #PovertyInquiry #BTPM

@janet_rice @Kerrynne_Liddle Sorry folks, we've got to break a little bit early. We'll be back after the lunch break (2pm ACST / 2:30pm AEDT).

@janet_rice @Kerrynne_Liddle Here's the next session:

https://twitter.com/antipovertycent/status/1602506491965374464?s=20&t=FIIeIkptkBl1jOL8WDTnYA