Comments | melaniejoy: A Rare Rant

melaniejoy

A Rare Rant

Jul 17, 2004 15:28

I am a member of the Australian Labor Party and have been for nearly ten years. In that time I have held many elected positions within the Party, including two terms on the Victorian Women's Policy Committee, of which I am currently President ( Read more... )

Comments 8

missjaala July 17 2004, 08:00:34 UTC

I'm going to ask this from a perspective of genuinely wanting know the answer, so bear with me!

I'm a 35 year old, single straight woman, no kids, no mortgage, don't drive, earning between $40-45K in Sydney. Can you please tell me anything either party has put forward that is of ANY benefit to me as a law abiding, tax paying member of society.

I do not exist on the radar or either Latham or Howard, who only seem to consider women as having any value if they breed or are at least married to someone (a man only), or have a mortgage/about to have one. I earn to much for benefits, but not enough for the tax breaks recently handed out.

So what has the Labor party got to offer me? I would genuinely like to know.

(I was a lifetime Labor voter but voted Liberal last election for some background info.)

melaniejoy July 19 2004, 07:21:43 UTC

This was two long to go in one comment, so I've made it into two - sorry.

Hi - I'm really glad you asked and not put out in the slightest.

I've put together some information that might interest you. I don't know a great deal about your personal circumstances so some of it might not apply to you or be of any interest. Most of it is from the Women's Policy Statement released today - there's a lot more to it, which you can find here http://www.alp.org.au/media/0704/20007988.html if you're interested.

Women's Safety:The ALP will ( ... )

melaniejoy July 19 2004, 07:22:32 UTC

Economic Security and IndependenceLabor will ( ... )

melaniejoy July 19 2004, 07:22:49 UTC

oops, and here's a third!Having said all of that, the main reason I vote Labor and am a member of the ALP has less to do with my personal circumstances and more about what type of assistance I would hope my community would provide for me if those circumstances were different. Having grown up in a single-parent family line and lived under the poverty line I simply don't believe the Liberals line on equality of opportunity. Their ethos is that if you work hard enough you can get out of whatever bad situation you are in. When my father left my Mum with three kids under the age of seven he cleaned out the joint bank account and demanded Mum pay him for his half of the house (the mortgage of which wasn't even paid off yet). She worked herself into the ground for the next 22 years to make sure that we had food, clean clothes, a good education and whatever opportunities we needed. She's still working herself into the ground just to make ends meet. She has no superannuation and she can't get the pension for another seven years, even though ( ... )

notfudge July 18 2004, 06:00:44 UTC

Well said (written?).

Hedda and I would like to meet you up one day and have lunch or something if you're interested?

melaniejoy July 19 2004, 03:57:51 UTC

Thanks - it's amazing how righteous indignation can make the words just pour out.

Oh my, Hedda's here?! How excitement! Lunch sounds great. Fridays are probably the best day because I don't have to work. Can you do a Friday?

notfudge July 19 2004, 04:07:07 UTC

Indeed.
I can do this Friday, can you?
I shall check with Hedda!

melaniejoy July 19 2004, 05:03:45 UTC

I think this Friday is OK. I'll check and let you know.