A COALITION backed by more than 60 union and community groups is holding the national launch of its Living Incomes For Everyone, or LIFE, campaign, tonight, Tuesday, at 7.30pm.
In line with restrictions on crowd numbers because of COVID-19, the launch will be a virtual event accessed online through Zoom and streamed on the LIFE campaign Facebook page.
LIVE LINKS:
- To pre-register on Zoom for the launch
- LIFE Facebook pages, National and Newcastle
Speakers include United Workers Union national secretary Tim Kennedy, historian Humphrey McQueen and political economist Ali Pennington, with a performance from Hunters & Collectors front man Mark Seymour,
Spokesperson Leigh Shears, from Hunter Workers (Newcastle Trades Hall Council) said the campaign was pushing for low-income workers and income-support recipients to receive a dignified standard of living, permanently.
Mr Shears said LIFE opposed plans to wind back the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs.
"The LIFE campaign is organising to stop these moves, and to make $1100 a fortnight an absolute minimum below which no-one should be forced to struggle for survival," Mr Shears said.
"Even this level of payments still leaves people in hardship, and we invite everyone to join us in our further campaigns for living incomes."
Mr Shears said youth unemployment in Newcastle was almost 19 per cent and the nation was on the edge of an explosion in joblessness and poverty.
Another campaign organiser, Sydney activist Janet Burstall, said the COVID-19 increases were the first real lift in unemployment benefits for 26 years.
"Many of the people we speak to will tell you that they're able to afford basic necessities for the first time since being on income support," Ms Burstall said.
