Protesters who have slept outside the Reserve Bank of Australia building on Sydney’s Martin Place since October 15 haven’t critiqued superannuation but some say it has “undermined social welfare”, says a spokesman for the protesters, Ben Peterson.
Peterson, who wore a badge that said “un**** the system,” says he is “between jobs.” He echoes the founders of the protest movement when he says that “99 per cent of the people have limited input into the way things are run.”
Jai Hush, a protester, says: “Every time I’ve had super it’s got lost in fees”.
He also complained he had lost track of his superannuation through job changes.
The protesters are sleeping on yoga mats and cardboard and have been told by police they cannot sleep horizontally – only in an upright position. Peterson says.
A police spokesman says protesters are not allowed to camp or sleep in Martin Place, according to council regulations.
The protesters’ signs included: “sorry for the inconvenience, we are fixing the system;” and “beware Sydney’s CBD: shark infested”.
Peterson says the protest has received support from the Maritime Union of Australia and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
Malcolm Turnbull, a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner and the shadow minister for communications and broadband, understands the protesters disillusion with governments following the bank bailouts in 2008 and 2009.
“”I think governments should not have taken bank liabilities onto public balance sheets so comprehensively,” says Turnbull.
I’d be interested to count the number of “occupiers” with full time jobs??
I’d be interested to count the number of “occupiers” with full time jobs??