Bullsh*t conversations with your family about politics

A CHEATSHEET TO GETTING THROUGH THE HOLIDAY

2023 has been huge! We’ve shown up on the streets, protested for justice, and taken on the corporations making record profits while everyone else is doing it tough.

But navigating the holidays can come with its own challenges, like your devil's advocate cousin or landlord uncle, but don't worry we’ve got you covered.  Here's your cheat sheet for getting through the average holiday chat.

Labor has ended the climate wars

FactS:

  • Since taking office, Labor has approved 5 new coal projects of the 116 coal and gas projects in the development pipeline. They’re hellbent on opening the rest 
  • Labor want Woodside’s Burrup Hub to go ahead, which will emit 13 times Australia’s annual emissions over its lifetime
  • Woodside posted a record half yearly profit of $2.7bn and have donated over $2m to Labor, Liberals & Nationals since 2014

tAKE ACTION: NO MORE COAL AND GAS

Sources: Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Market Forces, The Australia Institute

“We just can’t fix the rental crisis!”

FactS:

  • There’s no reason why Labor couldn’t freeze rent increases immediately
  • Rent controls work. We had them in the pandemic, and we have them in the ACT
  • Right now, rents can be raised to any amount without limits. Unlimited rent increases should be illegal
  • Instead of fixing the crisis, Labor are spending $74 billion over the next decade on tax handouts to wealthy property investors, driving up prices and locking people out of the market
  • Greens pressure won and additional $3 billion spent directly on housing

TAKE ACTION: RENT FREEZE NOW

“stop going to brunch if you’re feeling the pinch!”

FactS:

  • Corporations are causing this cost of living crisis and their politician mates are backing them in
  • 1 in 3 corporations pay no tax 
  • In the last year corporations have posted huge profits, ANZ Bank $7.4 billion, Woolies $1.6 billion, and Coles $1.1 billion 
  • Coles and Woolies are blatantly price gouging in a cost of living crisis
  • The OECD confirmed that corporate profits are responsible for 69% of inflation  
  • We need to take on the big corporations. If we introduce a super profits tax on the biggest corporations, we could raise billions to help struggling families  

TAKE ACTION: STOP SUPERMARKET PRICE-GOUGING

Source: The Australia Institute, The Guardian  

“The government can’t afford to do anything about the cost of living”

FactS:

  • Labor can tackle the cost of living crisis, they are just refusing to tax their corporate mates who are causing the crisis 
  • Labor is choosing to spend $314 billion by giving the super wealthy, including politicians and billionaires, like Clive Palmer and Gina Rhinehart, an extra $9000 a year in Stage 3 tax cuts. This will push up your interest rates and rent and make the cost of living crisis worse
  • What Labor should be doing is taking that $314 billion, making billionaires and big corporations pay more tax to fund services that address the cost of living crisis, like getting dental into Medicare and making unlimited rent rises illegal 

Stop the Stage 3 Tax Cuts

Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Vice AU 

You’ve got this!

Don't forget to:

  • Challenge assumptions 
  • Stay true to your beliefs and ideals for a better world 
  • Tell people how these issues personally affect you and make you feel 
  • Validate their experience if they share it, and ask questions to show you are listening 
  • And don’t forget to step away and take a break when a conversation may be getting a little too much 

It’s been a massive year, and with your support we have been growing our movement bigger than ever before. This holiday season, above all take care of each other and we’ll see you in 2024 to continue the fight.