Parliamentary friends of ending poverty must not repeat failures of Economic “Inclusion” Committee
The Antipoverty Centre was disappointed to learn about the establishment of the parliamentary friends of ending poverty through the media this morning. Early signs show this risks being yet another group that will do more to serve people who don’t understand our lives than us.
Co-chairs Alicia Payne and Bridget Archer should make clear how and why this group came about.
We cannot be more clear: You are not friends of people in poverty if the views of those who speak over and for us are yet again given priority, as reporting has indicated.
The minister has still not responded to concerns raised by unemployed advocates about the Economic “Inclusion” Committee.
We do not need more lip service to so-called lived experience, or organisations that profit from poverty selecting who gets to speak to politicians on our behalf.
As the only social policy group led by unemployed people, it is frustrating that we have again been excluded in favour of wealthy people who do not understand our lives. It is the responsibility of all MPs who join this group to ensure that we and other organisations led by people in poverty have our voices prioritised in its work.
People in poverty are experts and we are best placed to know what we need, and what you can do to support us.
Nothing about us without us.
Media contact: 0413 261 362 / media at antipovertycentre.org
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About the Antipoverty Centre
The Antipoverty Centre was established in May 2021 by people living on Centrelink payments to counter problems with academics, think tanks and others in the political class making harmful decisions on behalf of people they purport to represent.
We have deep expertise in poverty, disadvantage and unemployment, because we live it. Our goal is to help ensure the voices and rights of people living in poverty are at the centre of social policy development and discourse. We believe there should be no decision made about us without us.
The Antipoverty Centre is not aligned with any political party and does not accept funding that places political constraints on our work.
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