On Tuesday, May 9th, 2017, Mr. Scott Morrison - Treasurer of the LNP Australian Government - handed down the Budget 2017-18 to Parliament. I watched it on ABC iView, at 25 years of age, as an Australian citizen from birth, in my apartment in Moonee Ponds.
I am lucky enough to be getting married (I'm a heterosexual, and allowed that liberty in Australia).
I am lucky enough to have a job that pays well enough to afford rent and some luxuries in the relatively expensive area of Moonee Ponds, part of the Marybinong Electorate, currently held by Opposition Leader Mr. Bill Shorten.
I am, as I have been told, "white enough". I am white enough to get past most racist comments, though I've found that when there's no one more ethnic around, I tend to become the butt of those comments. I am white enough to be in when there is someone more out, yet I straddle that line.
I am disabled physically and mentally, but not enough to entirely impede my work, or my life. My disabilities are largely invisible, so I tend not to be weighed down by them in the same way as others as or more disabled than myself. Despite this, I struggle with them every day.
I was Christened, but am now in my second crisis of faith. I do not know at present what I am. And yet, I have never had my faith called into question - though I have been profiled as a Muslim due to my darker features - but this has never seriously affected me. I have never been economically or criminally effected.
I am an ardent believer in Socialism and the Trade Unionist movement. I have many tendencies under the Communist umbrella as well. I am lucky in that I have loudly and proudly expressed these beliefs in public, in private, and in the work place, and never found sanction or discipline for them.
I am a man.
I am the culmination of so many privileges.
And yet, on Tuesday, May 9th, 2017, when I watched the Budget I was at war. Like most Australians who heard the Treasurer speak, there were parts of me that agreed with the sentiment (or at least, with what was said), and there were parts of me that rebelled. I agreed with a redistribution of wealth to public schools. I disagreed with the cutting of education funding. I agreed with a levy to pay for the NDIS. I disagreed with it being applied across the board. I agreed with the taxation of the big banks. I disagreed with the conditional rules placed upon welfare payments...
Since, I have been in thought. I have always been a supporter, yet deeply critical of, the Australian Labor Party. I have, at points, supported the Green Party. I have always been dismayed that they are at each other's throats.
I have never been a member of a political party. I have never felt like the current incarnation of politics in Australia has a seat for those of my generation. I know I am not the only one from my generation to feel this way. I have never really given this critical thought. Should there be a seat for us? Should we force our way in and make one for ourselves?
I am afraid of what the world will look like if we don't. What will the world be in 30 years, when I am 55, and the political parties of Australia have arisen without more people of my generation stepping into them?
This will be my journey into that world. For others who, like me, do not know the way, do not know the means, may this be a guide. For others still who, unlike me, have this knowledge, let this be a chance for you to reach out to another platform... If you want to - I'll be doing the digging either way, but your hand could help me and the others like me.
I am lucky enough to be getting married (I'm a heterosexual, and allowed that liberty in Australia).
I am lucky enough to have a job that pays well enough to afford rent and some luxuries in the relatively expensive area of Moonee Ponds, part of the Marybinong Electorate, currently held by Opposition Leader Mr. Bill Shorten.
I am, as I have been told, "white enough". I am white enough to get past most racist comments, though I've found that when there's no one more ethnic around, I tend to become the butt of those comments. I am white enough to be in when there is someone more out, yet I straddle that line.
I am disabled physically and mentally, but not enough to entirely impede my work, or my life. My disabilities are largely invisible, so I tend not to be weighed down by them in the same way as others as or more disabled than myself. Despite this, I struggle with them every day.
I was Christened, but am now in my second crisis of faith. I do not know at present what I am. And yet, I have never had my faith called into question - though I have been profiled as a Muslim due to my darker features - but this has never seriously affected me. I have never been economically or criminally effected.
I am an ardent believer in Socialism and the Trade Unionist movement. I have many tendencies under the Communist umbrella as well. I am lucky in that I have loudly and proudly expressed these beliefs in public, in private, and in the work place, and never found sanction or discipline for them.
I am a man.
I am the culmination of so many privileges.
And yet, on Tuesday, May 9th, 2017, when I watched the Budget I was at war. Like most Australians who heard the Treasurer speak, there were parts of me that agreed with the sentiment (or at least, with what was said), and there were parts of me that rebelled. I agreed with a redistribution of wealth to public schools. I disagreed with the cutting of education funding. I agreed with a levy to pay for the NDIS. I disagreed with it being applied across the board. I agreed with the taxation of the big banks. I disagreed with the conditional rules placed upon welfare payments...
Since, I have been in thought. I have always been a supporter, yet deeply critical of, the Australian Labor Party. I have, at points, supported the Green Party. I have always been dismayed that they are at each other's throats.
I have never been a member of a political party. I have never felt like the current incarnation of politics in Australia has a seat for those of my generation. I know I am not the only one from my generation to feel this way. I have never really given this critical thought. Should there be a seat for us? Should we force our way in and make one for ourselves?
I am afraid of what the world will look like if we don't. What will the world be in 30 years, when I am 55, and the political parties of Australia have arisen without more people of my generation stepping into them?
This will be my journey into that world. For others who, like me, do not know the way, do not know the means, may this be a guide. For others still who, unlike me, have this knowledge, let this be a chance for you to reach out to another platform... If you want to - I'll be doing the digging either way, but your hand could help me and the others like me.
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