Politicians need to stop discussing tax breaks for long lunches and start prioritising an increase to the JobSeeker payment, community leaders say. Source: Canberra Times.
The Australian Council of Social Service, along with Catholic Social Services Australia, other community groups and crossbenchers, are continuing their call to raise the rate of income support payments.
The JobSeeker payment is $56 per day and the Youth Allowance is $47 per day.
The groups are urging the Albanese Government to increase both payments to $82 per day, in line with the pension.
Speaking at Parliament House, ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said Australia’s income support payments had been “grossly inadequate” for far too long.
It comes as the first parliamentary sitting week of the year has been dominated by the Coalition’s plan to allow tax deductions of up to $20,000 for meal and entertainment expenses for small businesses.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers released Treasury costings which revealed the Coalition’s plan could cost $1.6 billion a year.
Ms Goldie said the major parties hoping to form government at the federal election cannot take people’s votes for granted.
“We should have a Parliament which is not debating tax breaks for long lunches,” she said.
“We should be a Parliament that is coming together over the issues that really matter to … people, because they are all watching.”
In a Mirage News statement, Catholic Social Services Australia Executive Director, Jerry Nockles said the “stark reality” of more than 800,000 Australian children living in poverty is a “moral imperative that demands our immediate attention”.
“Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that every person has inherent dignity and worth, and the Common Good calls us to ensure no one is left behind, Dr Nockles said.
“While raising the rate of income support is not the entire solution, it is an essential step towards creating a more just and equitable society. It provides immediate relief to families struggling with the rising cost of living and unaffordable housing, while giving us the breathing space to address the myriad causes of poverty in Australia.”
FULL STORY
Forget long lunches and raise the JobSeeker rate instead: community leaders (By Brittney Levinson, Canberra TImes)
Crossbench, Leaders Urge Parliament: Boost Income Support (Mirage News)
