Calls to address poverty

By Gianni Francis

Apr 17, 2022

End poverty and hunger: Candidates for the federal seat of Nicholls are being urged to outline what their parties would do to help people afford the basics. Photo by Bethanie Sessions

There are 11,320 people in Nicholls living below the poverty line on $46 a day, despite receiving income support payments, such as JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and parenting payment.

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In the Greater Shepparton LGA, the poverty rate is 15 per cent, with at least 7800 people living below the poverty line, according to the Victorian Council of Social Service, but there are many more people doing it tough.

“There are tens of thousands of people living in poverty and rental stress across the greater Shepperton area,” VCOSS chief executive officer Emma King said.

“People are being forced to choose between heating their homes and feeding their kids, or between paying the rent or affording medicine.

“These are gut-wrenching decisions that nobody should be forced to make.”

Ms King said the Federal Government had massive influence over these issues, and all candidates should be clear on what structural reforms their parties would deliver to help people afford the basics and lead a life of dignity and wellbeing in the long term.

“All parties should immediately commit to a significant rise in the rate of JobSeeker, so people out of work are supported to cover the basics,” she said.

“Increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance, boosting JobSeeker and building more social housing should be top priorities.

“Our safety net should stop people falling into poverty, not trap them at their lowest ebb.”

The national counterpart to VCOSS, Australian Council of Social Service, has called on all candidates and parties to commit to raising the rate of JobSeeker to $70 a day, plus extra support for people with disabilities and single parents, so they can cover the basic costs of living.

The report concluded that an increase to unemployment payments would be extremely beneficial to regional Australia and would create a “prosperity effect” that would be a boon for local economies.

“How can anyone claim to care about the cost of living without addressing the inadequacy of JobSeeker, which is not enough to cover the cost of food, rent and essential medication?” ACOSS chief executive officer Cassandra Goldie said.

St Vincent de Paul Society national president Claire Victory said keeping the JobSeeker payment at $640 a fortnight was “brutal and unnecessary”.

“It is simply immoral for a nation as wealthy as Australia to allow millions of people to languish beneath the poverty line,” Ms Victory said.

By Gianni Francis