The above picture presents Matthew Regnier of Moe ( Victoria), who lost his job in January and has been living on just $414 a fortnight. Almost 70 percent of that amount of money goes on rent.Food is carefully rationed. His experience will be shared by my many more now the Abbott Government of Australia made the sweeping changes to today's welfare. We are now entering a period of a surge of youth homelessness and poverty.
The picture and the narration were part of an article on the front page of Melbourne's morning paper The Age , dated 12 May and preceeded an article called "generation lost ", the education crisis ..school dropouts pose risk of 'social disaster' The changes to the dole leave young jobless fearing for the future and there are fears a generation will be lost.
The general idea has always been that parents whereever they can prepare the present generation to be the new generation, fully equipped to lead a decent life. Obviously we cannot all be rich, but we can live a life where the normal needs are being met.
In the course of my work as a Priest, being it parttime , I see a lot of suffering in hospitals and nursing homes , especially in the group of senior Citizens. It hurts me that treasuer with a smile of his face gives Social welfare for this group in society a good kick in the teeth.
It is so easy for a Government to blame the previous Government , easier still the elected Government just break their election promises , it is that easy. To me and many others there cant be a blessings on all this. Why not bring back the carbon tax, which would have generated quite a bit of revenue? Those who are earning $180.000 and over generally worked very hard to get to that level, many of them want to provide a good future for their children, the present generation. They receive a kick in the teeth also.
We need a government that does the right thing by us , but especially for those, who cannot manage themselves. If the budget hurts you and yours , may the words of Psalm 90 bring you some realy comfort this evening.
Psalm 90. Domine, refugium.
LORD, thou hast been our refuge, * from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, * thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.
3 Thou turnest man to destruction; * again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, * and as a watch in the night.
5 As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep; * and fade away suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green, and groweth up; * but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.
7 For we consume away in thy displeasure, * and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.
8 Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee; * and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9 For when thou art angry all our days are gone: * we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.
10 The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, * yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.
11 But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? * or feareth aright thy indignation?
12 So teach us to number our days, * that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13 Turn thee again, O LORD, at the last, * and be gracious unto thy servants.
14 O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us; * and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.
16 Show thy servants thy work, * and their children thy glory.
17 And the glorious majesty of the LORD our God be upon us: * prosper thou the work of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy-work.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo Australia
