Socialistic policies have been embraced by both the major State political parties in Victoria and this is self evident even with the LNP who continue the centralist policies of their predecessors the ALP by continuing to cram more public tenants in the central city estates. Sure they have come up with other developer incentives but the main policy is still to put more people in highrise in the central suburbs of Melbourne. Centralist policy makers consider poor people should not be discriminated against by denying them central city services, however I believe that they are making a fundamental mistake in their thinking and making this group even more marginalised. My thinking is that if we going to be a socialist state then we should do it properly and offer public tenants an opportunity for a better lifestyle.
I believe it makes people living in the central city feel even worse when they missing out on more when they so close to everything they can't afford to get into or use. Thats a slap in the face of the disadvantaged in our society don't you think?. What's the point of being near the Arts Centre, the live theatres, the sports stadiums, specialist doctors, public transport etc if you can't afford to pay to enter and enjoy those venues or services and you get a fine for using public transport after being tempted to use it because it's so close to you?
I believe it makes people feel worse if they can see the wealth around them, the expensive cars they can never have, the expensive restaurants they can never dine in, the white collar workers travelling to and from work on public transport or airconditioned company cars then going into their airconditioned offices every day, seeing them dressed in fine clothes and women carrying high end Prada and even centerlink workers have it great; but they can't have the lifestyle they see others enjoying, they cant have or afford the airconditioning in their own chookpen apartments.
In my opinion it generates envy which may lead to an increased incident of crime. Like putting a poor person in a lolly shop who can't afford to buy the lollies and eventually you'd expect some lollies and chocolates to be stolen surely? Or the Mercedes stolen to go for a joyride ...so why do we continue to put temptation in front of the have nots? Is it to create extra business for the police maybe?
Well I think the extra business is too much for inner city police to handle and we need to change the whole idea of cramming more people in the areas they feel they'd like to live in and we should entice them to move and spread them into areas where most normal people live and work in the outer country towns and regional cities where the fresh air is better and so are the prices. the lifestyle is much better and the schools can do with more children. The businesses will benefit too as I'll explain below and more importantly the security and well being of tenants will be enhanced substantially imo.
DECENTRALISING CRIME OPPORTUNITIES
Criminals, drug dealers and others dont like to travel too far to meet their potential victims to prey on which is exactly what our housing estates offer criminals taking advantage of these our most vulnerable in our society by intimidating them, conning and assaulting them to part with their cash and enticing the younger vulnerable teenagers to join their gangs. This is self evident and been set in case history yet our policy makers keep thinking and worrying about losing their market share of voters is my opinion. The policy makers are not thinking straight and not thinking fair for the betterment of society as a whole in our so called modern society who seem to understand and promote the corrrect idea that drinking and driving and your a bloody idiot but Drinking and gaming is still ok. We as a society have only developed our ideas half way on some things and we all stuck in a rut to bother doing the right thing in our other public policy issues.
I am now seeking the welfare agencies to also support and become involved after seeking the assistance from regional Councillors in country towns and others who have the power to lobby their friends in high places within both the State LNP and the ALP so they will seriously consider my proposal so both partys will change their public housing policies BEFORE THE STATE ELECTIONS by agreeing to decentralise their centralist housing policies by selling some of their $billion housing slum estates in areas such as Richmond, South Yarra, North Melb, Carlton to wealthy investors and reinvesting proceeds into building decent housing on larger blocks in country towns such as St Arnaud, one in every street and let some local developers build a few too. Why not DHS buy some of the run down houses and repair them to modern day standards and provide housing opportunities for some of their city based clients? Why do they need to be near the Universities they cant attend or the Melb General Cemetery? Why are we giving wealthy city businesses more welfare business when that great money could be going to local country businesses?
A change in policy will create work for tradies and local businesses and create more downstream employment and would appear to fall in line with the thinking of the federal government that INFRUSTRUCTURE SPENDING which is another word for PUBLIC WORKS will be a great and useful economic booster for our Australian but in this case our Victorian economy. New freeways are all well and good, we need them but people cant live comfortably on the streets and freeways or those chook pens we still continue to offer.
As stated previously ,it is my opinion the cramming of public housing tenants together on top of each other is not good for both their security nor their health and a sea change to the country should be made an option for a percentage of city dwellers to encourage more to choose country locations for permanent accommodation.
This could be achieved by offering inducements such as FREE NBN internet service, a free washing machine, a free fridge or in some cases a free car.
What is not fully understood by local government and State politicians is that most public housing tenants as a class have a steady and high disposable income which they spend very freely on takeaway foods and pizzas, on foxtel and other forms of entertainment and services.
What is not fully understood by local government and State politicians is that most public housing tenants as a class have a steady and high disposable income which they spend very freely on takeaway foods and pizzas, on foxtel and other forms of entertainment and services.
Whilst most citizens might feel they don't want to associate with them as a group but spread them out of the current concrentration groups and every country town and business will want them business and appreciate having a special class of people who are supported by ALL the major federal government political Partys by giving them a steady fortnightly income in pensions and benefits and half market rental and benefits. Why do you still till insist they live in small concrete shoeboxes stacked up on top of each other, when they could be offered a free range lifestyle in our many country towns. Why should the administrators of public housing dictate where people live? Why cant we do it better? Why cant the State become more productive like they expect private enterprise to become?
In my opinion. many of these pensioners DO NOT need to live in South Yarra rubbing shoulders with Lindsay Fox or the Myer family at their local cafes and yet where they are afraid to exit their units both during the day and at night for fear of assault by thieves and drug dealers and those with mental health issues. The wealthy can afford private security however Public tenants cant and so have to endures years of living in fear for their lives. Is this fair and reasonable in our modern society?
In my opinion. many of these pensioners DO NOT need to live in South Yarra rubbing shoulders with Lindsay Fox or the Myer family at their local cafes and yet where they are afraid to exit their units both during the day and at night for fear of assault by thieves and drug dealers and those with mental health issues. The wealthy can afford private security however Public tenants cant and so have to endures years of living in fear for their lives. Is this fair and reasonable in our modern society?
These pensioners and others on DSP would love the opportunity to walk to IGA in St Arnaud to buy their groceries without being molested or go to Reidy's to by a Dominoes Pizza at night again without being attacked or followed. Some of these pensioners of which there are over 800,000, receive $840pf up to $960pf in regular income from the federal government which is a higher net than most workers in local businesses, or part time workers and together with cheap public housing rentals should make them the most wanted potential customer in Country Victoria because they sure have needs, and when they spend all their money they have the charities who will help them out with their rental shortfall if they in private housing or if they gamble too much at the Sports Club and cant afford food that week then they'll get food vouchers.
Imagine a steady secure income from Federal government tax collections every fortnight coming into St Arnaud and Stawell and spreading lots of them all over Western Victoria to tide us over the severe recession hitting the Australian middle classes getting wiped out. Imagine the local doctor putting on more staff and the St Arnaud hospital getting more funding to support these people on DSP and not all are cripples some are healthier than you and me. These people tend not to save money but will buy whitegoods, clothes luxuries but alas usually not new cars. Imagine some single mothers with children sending their mulitude to the local schools who need more funding and more teachers...what a good reason for the State to re-direct and offer more funding and as the numbers of families increase so do the kids in schools...All these examples of how we can help revive our country towns like ST ARNAUD and the rest of Northern Grampians and Western Victoria....
Imagine a steady secure income from Federal government tax collections every fortnight coming into St Arnaud and Stawell and spreading lots of them all over Western Victoria to tide us over the severe recession hitting the Australian middle classes getting wiped out. Imagine the local doctor putting on more staff and the St Arnaud hospital getting more funding to support these people on DSP and not all are cripples some are healthier than you and me. These people tend not to save money but will buy whitegoods, clothes luxuries but alas usually not new cars. Imagine some single mothers with children sending their mulitude to the local schools who need more funding and more teachers...what a good reason for the State to re-direct and offer more funding and as the numbers of families increase so do the kids in schools...All these examples of how we can help revive our country towns like ST ARNAUD and the rest of Northern Grampians and Western Victoria....
Give me your support by lobbying your contacts and I'll keep annoying every member of parliament in the land and ill keep my twittering to every political policy maker who will respond. IT CAN BE DONE.
St Arnaud is an prime example of a great little community of about 3000, has two primary schools including St Patricks and a secondary school. Flood free and has every major bank represented in this historic gold mining township. Agricultural based businesses and work available in the welding trades for its silo and agricultural industries. But there is more work available when eager workers ask around. Plenty of great cafes. and a Bible Museum too.
Gilbert Boffa
www.gillysrooms.com.auIndoor Camping
Commonwealth Hotel Buildings & Grounds [ex-pub]
ST ARNAUD VIC 3478
0407855224NOTE:
This is a true story, a mother and daughter have been so traumatized by their lack of safety living in public housing in Melbourne that LAST week they decided to give up their new public housing unit of 8 months in Prahran and moved into backpacker accommodation as they see it will be safer for them. This same daughter had to give up studying at Melbourne Uni because the Carer Pension rules prohibit more than 25 hours study per week including travel time. Who makes these rules? I had offered my place in St Arnaud, however daughter was waiting on a scholarship Uni offer possibly from interstate. MORE NEWS : They now living in backpacker accom in NSW where they claim about 15% might be in same boat as them. Its dearer but safer accommodation. They also went to visit Malcolm Turnbulls office in NSW. They now feel safer for first time in several years. This lady will talk to the media if they are going to be sensative to her story of a broken woman and her family.
.Copy:Note: no apologies for using unusual ideas, words or phrases to enhance my points.
