Catholic Social Services Australia chief executive Jerry Nockles has expressed concern following the release of figures showing inflation is moving in the wrong direction.
“Inflation is not just an economic statistic – it is a crushing weight on the shoulders of those already struggling to make ends meet,” Dr Nockles said.
“For many Australians we accompany, the rising cost of essentials like energy, food, and housing is no longer manageable. This crisis threatens their dignity and wellbeing.”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that annual headline inflation rose to 3.8 per cent in October, up from 3.6 per cent in September. Housing costs increased by 5.9 per cent, while electricity prices surged by 37.1 per cent over the past year.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 3.2 per cent, with notable increases in meat and seafood prices. Rent inflation accelerated to 4.2 per cent annually, with low-income households spending over 30 per cent of their disposable income on housing.
“These price rises are not abstract numbers – they translate into real hardship,” Dr Nockles said.
“Many families are forced to skip meals, delay medical care, or face housing insecurity. We remain deeply concerned about the impact of these pressures on single parents, people with disabilities, First Nations communities, refugees, older Australians on fixed incomes, and unemployed people.”
“This moment is a clear reminder that policies from all political parties and the advice of the bureaucracy must be firmly in pursuit of the common good, not the narrow interests of particular groups. Chasing sectional interests only deepens division and leaves the most vulnerable behind.”
Dr Nockles urged governments and policymakers to be vigilant about inflationary spending measures and their unintended consequences on vulnerable communities.
“I encourage all members and senators, as they return to their electorates and states in the lead-up to Christmas, to engage with their local Catholic social service providers to hear firsthand the impact inflation is having on vulnerable communities,” he said.
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Inflation is the crushing weight on the shoulders of Australias disadvantaged (CSSA)
