Across the country, people on JobSeeker and Youth Allowance are contacting their local members of Parliament to tell them why we cannot go back to $40 per day, as part of the Raise the Rate for Good campaign’s National Day of Action.
A wide range of organisations are showing their support through an open statement calling for a permanent and adequate increase to JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related payments to cover the basics, so everyone can put a roof over their head and food on the table.
Signatories include the Australian Medical Association, Cancer Council Australia, the Centre for Economic Development of Australia, the Country Women’s Association, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, People with Disability Australia, the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children, and Council on the Ageing Australia.
The National Day of Action coincides with the release of a survey by Anglicare Australia showing that, under the old Newstart rate of just $40 a day, people without paid work were having to turn to charity to get by on the basics, with 1 in 2 people (44 percent) who came to Anglicare for help needing help for a year or more and 40 percent supporting children.
A recently released survey by the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children of parents receiving the temporarily increased JobSeeker payment found nearly 7 in 10 said their family was healthier due to having enough food to eat and healthier options.
