Senate committee recommends government take urgent action on poverty, but Labor refuses to support their own calls while in Opposition to raise Jobseeker above the poverty line
An interim report tabled by the Greens-chaired Senate Community Affairs References Committee today outlines the devastating impact of poverty on millions of Australians and recommends the government take urgent action to address this crisis, and prioritise policy measures in the upcoming May Budget that specifically target rising inequality and entrenched disadvantage, including through the income support system.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Labor Senators refused to support proposed recommendations for an increase to Jobseeker or establishing a national definition of poverty, changes that would benefit vulnerable Australians who are in dire need of support. This comes off the back of Labor calling for a national poverty definition and a raise to Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and other payments while in Opposition, including supporting recommendations in an inquiry report in 2020.
The Greens' Additional Comments make these two recommendations:
That the Australian Government immediately increase the base rate of Jobseeker and other income support payments to $88 a day, regardless of age.
That the Australian Government establish a national definition of poverty.
Senator Janet Rice, Greens Social Services spokesperson and Chair of the Committee, said:
"The inquiry heard powerful testimony on the impacts of poverty on students and young people, single mums, domestic violence survivors, and those struggling to keep a roof over their head on payments that are well below the poverty line.
"When we have millions of Australians on starvation-payments, people trying to escape domestic violence, young people struggling with their mental health and dropping out of uni because they can't afford it, and thousands of people who can't afford food as well as their medicine, it's hard to understand how the Labor Government can morally justify not raising income support.
"If Labor does choose to raise the rate of JobSeeker for people over 55, that's a welcome step. But we don't accept that we can't afford to raise the rate for everyone.
In opposition, Anthony Albanese is on the record saying that the rate of income support is inadequate, and Labor supported previous senate inquiry recommendations to raise the rate of Centrelink payments. Are they now saying that it's only inadequate for those over 55 years of age? It's hard to believe the Labor Party hold any core values if they can so easily call for one thing in opposition and do the opposite while in government.
"Poverty can have dire impacts on your physical and mental health, and your ability to find work and maintain relationships, regardless of whether you're 20 or 60. That's what the Senate Inquiry evidence has clearly shown. And Labor Senators sat in the room listening to all of it.
"Labor needs a wake up call. They're not going to get away with tinkering around the edges of a system that's killing people.
"Poverty is a political choice and the Labor government is spending $368 billion on nuclear submarines and $254 billion on tax cuts for the rich instead of doing the bare minimum for people living below the poverty line in a cost of living crisis.
"The Labor Government can't keep burying their heads in the sand and continue to ignore the millions of renters, single parents, students, women, and people with disabilities all doing it tough.
"Poverty is a policy choice, and this government is doubling down on their choice to leave people without heating or food or medicines as they struggle to pay the rent.
"In the upcoming budget, Labor must scrap their stage 3 tax cuts for billionaires and the ultra-wealthy and lift income support rates above the poverty line."
