The Big Issue

Edition 301

Acclaimed actress Kerry Armstrong talks to Alan Attwood about her new ABC TV series, being ‘difficult’ and why she wants Tilda Swinton to retire.

Also in this issue:

In ‘The Real Ryan’ Gaynor Flynn talks to Ryan Gosling star of Lars and the Real Girl, a film about an awkward introvert who has a real-life relationship with a blow-up doll.

In ‘Homeless, not hopeless’: youth homelessness is in the spotlight – thanks to a new report and documentary. But has anything changed?

And in ‘Roving Eye’: portraits of the nuclear industry’s innocent victims.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ for this edition is Dave from Perth. We also have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Canberra’s Michael B, Julie M from Melbourne and Sydney vendors Kerrie and Annemarie.

Editorial

A Seat To Call One’s Own

The good news is that people are talking about homelessness. The bad news is that people still need to talk about it. At least it seems to be an issue that is on the agenda of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. It was only after last year’s federal election that it became known that the-then Opposition Leader had visited a homeless shelter during the campaign. Had he done this with cameras and reporters in tow it might well have been dismissed as a cynical political stunt. Instead, his concern appeared genuine, and he subsequently suggested to his parliamentary colleagues that they, too, should get first-hand experience of services to the homeless.

As PM, Mr Rudd has gone some way to turning words into actions. There’s a commitment by his government to spend $150 million on new housing and $2.8 million for social, sporting and community programs. In addition, in January he announced plans to develop what he called “a comprehensive, long-term plan to reduce homelessness”.

There are proposals for a green paper, a formal process of consultation next month, then a white paper in September charting a way forward. Please don’t ask me the significance of the colour-coding, though I’m reassured by the fact that Tony Nicholson, executive director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and a man with vast experience in the social welfare sector, is leading the steering committee. Still, there’s always concern that these things can generate more papers than projects.

It is estimated that on any night, around 100,000 people in Australia are homeless – a category that includes people staying with friends or relatives (but without a permanent home of their own), people in places such as boarding houses, people sleeping rough, and people in crisis or transitional accommodation. The problem is getting worse rather than better.

Early figures from the 2006 national census suggest an increase in the number sleeping rough. Half of all people (including children) wanting emergency accommodation will be turned away. The number of families seeking assistance from the St Vincent de Paul Society rose by 30% between 2002 and 2007. Which was, we were told in last year’s election campaign, a period of great prosperity in Australia. And it probably was – for some. Luxury cars sold well. Penthouses in new apartment buildings were keenly sought after. They still are. Meanwhile, the largest single group in the homeless population, making up just over one-third of the total, represents those aged between 12 and 24.

This month, a new report on homeless youth will be released (see p22). It comes almost 20 years after an influential report on the same topic. Those involved could be forgiven for wondering if much has changed at all: only the faces and figures are different. But at least the PM appears keen to do something about it. As does his wife, Therese Rein.

During their recent visit to New York, Rein visited the HQ of Common Ground, which converts buildings into affordable housing. She is patron of an Australian offshoot of the organisation. Also in New York, the PM announced a possible Australian bid for a seat on the UN’s Security Council in 2013–14. The cost of such a bid, which appears to be the diplomatic equivalent of anything involving the Olympics, reportedly could be $35 million. Perhaps I don’t get out enough, but I’ve never encountered anyone terribly fussed about Australia’s influence (or lack thereof) in the Security Council. And there are any number of services and groups dealing with homelessness that would put $35 million to much better use. Priorities, Prime Minister, it’s all about priorities…

At The Big Issue, we work with people who know a lot about homelessness. But it’s wrong to suggest that all our vendors are homeless. Many will have experienced it, but selling the magazine is often part of a long-term process to improve their circumstances.

Those of us who put the magazine together have a relatively simple brief: make it as lively, interesting, relevant and appealing as possible. The more copies each vendor sells, the happier we all are. Actor Kerry Armstrong (our cover story this edition) and the issue of homelessness may seem like an odd mixture. But, really, they’re a perfect marriage – and not only because Armstrong has a strong social conscience.

This is the only magazine that can offer an interview with somebody like her in a publication that directly helps the person selling it. That’s the good news. And, this time, there’s no bad news