It's not every day you can make a difference like this.

GU A Fair Stimulus

30,000 Australians are predicted to lose their jobs due to the Global Financial Crisis1 - but they've been left behind in the $42 billion economic stimulus package.

To get back on their feet quickly, these 300,000 Australians need our help. The legacy of the Howard era is a system where unemployment payments are less than half the minimum wage. It is a system so beset by bureaucratic problems that often those who need help most can't get it.

In the next few hours and days we have the opportunity to fix this unfairness.

Email your politician to demand a fair stimulus package.

This will put money straight into the pockets of those who need it most; money that will keep them afloat when times are tough; money that goes straight back into the economy.

Here's how we can make a difference - if the stimulus package is to pass, the Government needs the Greens, Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding all on board. They all have the power to tell the Government: this stimulus package won't pass without looking after those hardest hit.

All the politicians and their staffers are working in Parliament House this weekend (we're here too!). Tell them to support those hardest hit by this financial crisis.

Email the leader of the party you voted for at the last election (or another of your choice), before the Senate votes on this package mid week.

Email Treasurer Wayne Swan (ALP)

Email Shadow Treasurer Julie Bishop (Liberal Party)

Email Bob Brown (Greens)

Email Warren Truss (Nationals)

Email Nick Xenophon (SA Independent)

Email Steve Fielding (Family First)

Fagmedia Editor´s note: To email go to the Getup Website and click on campaigns: http://www.getup.org.au

We vote for our politicians once every few years - but that doesn't mean we can't call in a favour in between. There's never been a better or more important time to fix this broken system.

Thanks for being a part of the solution,

The GetUp team

PS - Wayne Swan yesterday said it was "administratively too hard" to help the poorest Australians. That's not good enough. Email a Parliamentary leader to demand the stimulus helps those who need it most.

1Australia Report https://www.tai.org.au/file.php?file=newstart_final.pdf