The latest Australian Council of Social Service annual survey of 1560 non-disability support recipients shows 97 per cent are in housing stress. Source: 9news.com.au.
The Raise the Rate survey shows 75 per cent have cut back on fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and 90 per cent feel socially isolated.
ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said it can impact day-to-day interactions.
“When someone says let’s go out for a coffee you don’t go because you can’t even afford to pay for your own,” she said.
Independent MP Zali Steggall said many Australians “feel left behind by a system that is not supporting them”.
Social service groups are now calling for a jump in Jobseeker and Austudy payments, to closer match the pension, which is about $1000 per fortnight.
The cost of that would be about $5 billion dollars per year to the federal budget.
“Where is the Prime Minister and his government to say we will not put up with this level of destitution in one of the wealthiest countries in the world,” Ms Goldie said.
The Albanese Government points to consecutive tax cuts and backing above inflation increases in the minimum wage. But, as the reserve bank weighs up a rates decision, three-quarters of welfare recipients say they don’t have $500 for emergencies.
“The people on lowest incomes are the ones that are doing it the hardest,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
FULL STORY
True scale of Australia’s cost of living crisis exposed in new report (By Karishma Sarkari, 9news.com.au)
