My name is Megan.
I'm a teacher, mother and proud GetUp member.
I've had my share of struggles -- illness, poverty, and even homelessness -- all while raising four children on my own. At some points along the way, like millions of other Australians, I've relied on income support to help me get by.
But lately it seems like hardly a day goes by without politicians calling people like me "slackers", "bludgers" and "cheats".
It's demeaning.
It's hurtful.
And it makes me feel like a criminal, just for struggling to make ends meet.
Late last year a threatening robo-debt letter arrived at my door -- demanding thousands of dollars I knew I did not owe.
I was one of hundreds of thousands of Australians being bullied by the Turnbull Government -- they were spitting 20,000 new debt threats every single week.
Lucky for me, you and the entire GetUp movement stepped up and took them on.
3,500 incredible GetUp members funded FraudStop -- a free service to fight debt letters.
Thanks to GetUp members like you, I was able to take on the Turnbull Government -- and win!
To those who chipped in, thank you for standing with me. And to the tens of thousands of other amazing GetUp members that have taken part in the campaign -- check out what we've achieved together...
Australians signed the robo-debt petition
people flooded MPs' inboxes
GetUp members chipped in to fund FraudStop and the campaign
threatening robo-debt letters stopped in their tracks
Australians signed the robo-debt petition
people flooded MPs' inboxes
GetUp members chipped in to fund FraudStop and the campaign
threatening robo-debt threats stopped in their tracks
We've achieved so much already. But the fight doesn't end here.
Attacks are coming thick and fast -- with new cuts to income support and punitive new measures announced in this year's budget.
That's why last week I stood shoulder to shoulder with other GetUp members to deliver our 74.5k signature-strong robo-debt petition directly to Human Services Minister Alan Tudge.
But he refused to accept it. Then security grabbed me and frogmarched us from the building.
Why? Because politicians like Alan Tudge don't care what people like you and I have have to say. He wants to divide us into "lifters and leaners".
And that's why we need to stand united like never before.
Because here's the truth: a strong social safety net is about all of us. And it's up to all of us to defend it.
Thanks to the work of GetUp members, I was able to fight my debt. And if you can make a monthly gift to this campaign, I know it will help so many others.
In gratitude and hope,
Megan
Authorised by Paul Oosting, 14/338 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000