Social Action Office - Fair Go Fair Share Sample Letters

Fair Go Fair Share Campaign

(Please refer to the Fair Go Fair Share Briefing Note
and the St Vincent de Paul Report for background information)

Sample Letter 1

(Date)

(Senator's Name)
(Address)

Dear (Senator's Name)

In recent years I have become concerned about the increasing inequality in Australian society. In particular, I am concerned about:

the gap between the well-off and the battlers especially in income and in working conditions - the growth of the 'working poor' and the demise of a meaningful living wage is of particular concern to me;
the growing health gap between the rich and the poor;
the crisis of affordable and secure housing for people on low incomes which has partly been accompanied by the decline in government funding for public housing via the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement. While rent assistance has increased, it is now well accepted that this does not keep pace with the increasing costs of private rental housing in many, many instances.

These concerns have recently been highlighted by the Society of St Vincent de Paul in their report Two Australias - addressing inequality and poverty.

One further dimension of the growing disparities in Australia today is the diminishment of many public services such as public education, public health and public housing. This can be seen against the subsidisation of private education, private health care and private housing - all of which have seen a massive influx of public monies in recent times. There are many in the Australian community who rely exclusively upon public services and these should be maintained to a high quality. The common good is not served by allowing publicly provided services to run down.

As this nation approaches the next Federal election, I am seeking assurances from all political parties that the inequalities that currently exist in Australia today will be addressed and that the nation will not be allowed to divide into two Australias - as the Society of St Vincent de Paul has warned could happen.

I would be pleased to know what policy initiatives the (name of political party) will be taking to really address the issues I have raised in this letter.

Yours sincerely

(Your Name)

Sample Letter 2

(Date)

(Senator's Name)
(Address)

Dear (Senator's Name)

As a (Queenslander/other State resident), I am deeply concerned about the growing inequality in Australia today - in income, health and housing. In particular, I am concerned about:

the lack of affordable housing for many on low incomes and the decline in government support for public housing;
the growth of the 'working poor' whose earnings fall below an adequate 'living wage';
the vulnerability and insecurity of people on pensions and benefits living below the poverty line;
the growing health gap between rich and poor.

What steps will your political party take to address my concerns?

Yours sincerely

(Your Name)

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		Fair Go Fair Share Campaign (Please refer to the Fair Go Fair Share Briefing Note and the St Vincent de Paul Report for background information) Sample Letter 1 (Date) (Senator's Name) (Address) Dear (Senator's Name) In recent years I have become concerned about the increasing inequality in Australian society. In particular, I am concerned about: the gap between the well-off and the battlers especially in income and in working conditions - the growth of the 'working poor' and the demise of a meaningful living wage is of particular concern to me; the growing health gap between the rich and the poor; the crisis of affordable and secure housing for people on low incomes which has partly been accompanied by the decline in government funding for public housing via the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement. While rent assistance has increased, it is now well accepted that this does not keep pace with the increasing costs of private rental housing in many, many instances. These concerns have recently been highlighted by the Society of St Vincent de Paul in their report Two Australias - addressing inequality and poverty. One further dimension of the growing disparities in Australia today is the diminishment of many public services such as public education, public health and public housing. This can be seen against the subsidisation of private education, private health care and private housing - all of which have seen a massive influx of public monies in recent times. There are many in the Australian community who rely exclusively upon public services and these should be maintained to a high quality. The common good is not served by allowing publicly provided services to run down. As this nation approaches the next Federal election, I am seeking assurances from all political parties that the inequalities that currently exist in Australia today will be addressed and that the nation will not be allowed to divide into two Australias - as the Society of St Vincent de Paul has warned could happen. I would be pleased to know what policy initiatives the (name of political party) will be taking to really address the issues I have raised in this letter. Yours sincerely (Your Name) Sample Letter 2 (Date) (Senator's Name) (Address) Dear (Senator's Name) As a (Queenslander/other State resident), I am deeply concerned about the growing inequality in Australia today - in income, health and housing. In particular, I am concerned about: the lack of affordable housing for many on low incomes and the decline in government support for public housing; the growth of the 'working poor' whose earnings fall below an adequate 'living wage'; the vulnerability and insecurity of people on pensions and benefits living below the poverty line; the growing health gap between rich and poor. What steps will your political party take to address my concerns? Yours sincerely (Your Name) Return to Fair Go Fair Share Archive