More than forty prominent Australians and leading heads of charities, unions, and national community welfare organisations, have united to sign an Open Letter to the Federal Government, calling for an increase in income support allowance payments in the May Budget.
The Open Letter, organised by the Australian Council of Social Service, calls on the Australian Government to increase the single rate of Newstart and other allowances and index these payments to wages, to address growing poverty in Australia.
“There is widespread concern among people from all quarters in our community that keeping Allowance payments like Newstart so low doesn’t help people into work, but merely drives them further into misery,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.
“This only makes life even harder for people already struggling to lift themselves up and more fully participate in our society through paid work. It is simply unacceptable that Newstart hasn’t been increased in real terms for nearly 20 years.
“We all understand the current budgetary constraints, however, this must be a priority in the coming Budget. We can afford the $1.8 billion. In fact we cannot afford not to do it.
“At present 2.2 million people live below the poverty line in Australia, including 575,000 children. The highest risk groups are people who are out of paid work and those on low income support payments.
“Increasing Newstart by $50 a week will help lift over one million people out of this despairing situation, and provide a welcome stimulus to the economy, because every single cent will be spent on mere survival.
“We urge the federal government to listen to this loud call from across the community and take the courageous step last taken by Paul Keating in 1994, and finally ensure an increase in the payments of some of most disadvantaged people in our community,” Dr Goldie concluded.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155
To understand how this effects people’s lives watch this video: Tony and Geraldine’s account of life on just $35 a day
Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough! campaign
Signatories to Open Letter
Mick Gooda
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO
Professor of Law, Australian Catholic University
Julian Burnside AO QC
Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, and author
Jane Caro,
Author and media commentator
Eva Cox AO
Professorial Fellow, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, UTS
Dr David Morawetz
Founder and Director, Social Justice Fund
Miriam Lyons
Public policy advocate and social commentator
Les Malezer
Co-chair, National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
Ged Kearney
President. Australian Council of Trade Unions
Major Kelvin Alley
National Secretary, The Salvation Army National Secretariat
Matthew Bowden
Co-Chief Executive Officer, People with Disability Australia Incorporated
Alison Brook
National Executive Officer, Relationships Australia
Kasy Chambers
Executive Director, Anglicare Australia
Narelle Clay AM
Chairperson, Homelessness Australia
Tim Costello
Chief Executive Officer, World Vision Australia
Carol Croce
Executive Director, Community Housing Federation of Australia
Andrew Cummings
Executive Director, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
Dr John Falzon
CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society
Carolyn Frohmader
Executive Director, Women with Disabilities Australia
Angelo Gavrielatos,
Federal President, Australian Education Union
Dr Cassandra Goldie
CEO, Australian Council of Social Service
Steve Hackett
Executive Director, Family Relationships Services Australia
Lesley Hall
CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Toby Hall
CEO, Mission Australia
Lin Hatfield Dodds,
National Director, UnitingCare Australia
Prof Karen Healy
President, Australian Association of Social Workers
John Heath
CEO, SANE Australia
Anne Hollonds
CEO, Benevolent Society
Rob Lake,
Executive Director, Australian Federation of Aids Organisations
Caroline Lambert,
Executive Officer, YWCA Australia
Claerwen Little
Director, UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families
Cedric Manen
Chair, Settlement Council of Australia
Ron Mell
Chief Executive Officer, YMCA AUSTRALIA
Michael Moore
CEO, Public Health Association of Australia
Paul O’Callaghan
Executive Director, Catholic Social Services Australia
Maree O’Halloran AM
President, National Welfare Rights Network
Adrian Pisarski
Executive Officer, Queensland Shelter Inc. Chair, National Shelter
Marc Purcell
Executive Director, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)
Frank Quinlan
CEO, Mental Health Council of Australia
Bishop Christopher Saunders
Chairman, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
Michael Smith
National Convenor, National Association of Community Legal Centres Inc
Louise Tarrant
National Secretary, United Voice
Lee Thomas
President, Australian Nursing Federation
David Thompson
CEO, Jobs Australia
Rebecca Vassarotti
Executive Director, YWCA Canberra
Jo Watson
Executive Director, National Association of People with HIV Australia