They cannot treat her mental health because of her addiction
But when she gets through detox, they say she's too high risk, and-
They send her off to hospital, so then within a week
She's been dosed up on some Valium, and sent home with no relief
Every few months, a psychologist must fill in a form
Telling Centrelink she cannot work 'cause nothing's changed at all
But then one month, they get confused and tick a different box
And an office clerk at Centrelink just cuts her payments off
With no money, and no alcohol, and an untreated addiction
She can't afford the bottles, so of course, she's gonna nick them
And it's off to see the magistrate who gives another fine
And if the family was poor or black, then she'd be doing time
Keep on privatising
Cutting and dividing
Services in silos
Nothing helps and nobody knows
Keep on privatising
Cutting and dividing
Services in silos
Nothing helps and nobody knows
♪
They say you cannot help someone who will not help themselves
But what of those who want to change, but need a bit more help
Do you really think that someone wants the constant carousel
Of the hold music at Centrelink and a fucking prison cell?
No one wants to be addicted, no one wants to be depressed
Ostracised, vilified and thrown in above their head
Politicians use a tragedy to prove that they're strong men
Then incarcerate the victims that they're claiming to protect
Keep on privatising
Cutting and dividing
Services in silos
Nothing helps and nobody knows
Keep on privatising
Cutting and dividing
Services in silos
Nothing helps and nobody knows
You just make the prisons bigger (keep on privatising)
You forget, you forget, and you make the prison bigger (cutting and dividing)
Push it down, block it out, and you make the prisons bigger (services in silos)
You tell yourself you'll sleep at night if you make the prisons bigger (nothing helps and nobody knows)
You forget, you forget, and you make the prison bigger (keep on privatising)
Push it down, block it out, and you make the prisons bigger (cutting and dividing)
Justify, tell 'em all lies, and you make the prisons bigger (services in silos)
You tell yourself you'll sleep at night if you make the prisons bigger (nothing helps and nobody knows)
(Keep on privatising) make the prisons bigger
(Cutting and dividing) make the prisons bigger
(Services in silos) make the prisons bigger
(Nothing helps and nobody knows) make the prisons bigger