We call on the next government to Raise the Rate of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and related income support payments to ensure that everyone can cover the basics.  

JobSeeker is just $56 a day and Youth Allowance is even less at $48 a day. These payments sit well below all measures of adequacy, with JobSeeker just 43.5% of the minimum wage and well below the poverty line.  

People receiving JobSeeker are 14 times more likely to go without a substantial meal a day, with many skipping essential medication and healthcare just to keep a roof over their head.  

Research shows that there are no affordable rentals for someone receiving JobSeeker or Youth Allowance. 

The independent Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has recommended JobSeeker and related payments substantially increase as its top priority for three years running, with its latest report finding that doing so “would deliver significant economic and social benefits.” 

Raising the Rate of these payments is the most important thing the next government could do to address the cost-of-living crisis for people on the lowest incomes who most need support.  

To do so would benefit more than 1.5 million people.

This is easy to implement, not a complex reform.   

We urge the next government to substantially raise the rate of these payments so that people do not need to go without food, healthcare and a safe place to call home.  

Signatories

Politicians and candidates

Zali Steggall MP, Independent Member for Warringah

Kylea Tink, North Sydney, MP

Monique Ryan, Independent MP for Kooyong

Sophie Scamps MP, Member for Mackellar

Helen Haines MP, Member for Indi

Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Clark

Zoe Daniel, MP, Member for Goldstein

Kate Chaney MP, Member for Curtin

Allegra Spender MP, Member for Wentworth

Bridget Archer MP, Member for Bass

David Pocock, Independent Senator for the ACT

Jacqui Lambie, Senator for Tasmania

Fatima Payman, Australia’s Voice, Senator for WA

Adam Bandt, Australian Greens, Member for Melbourne

Penny Allman-Payne, Queensland, Senator

Barbara Pocock, Australian Greens, Senator

Peter Whish-Wilson, Australian Greens, Senator for Tasmania

Jordan Steele-John, Australian Greens, Senator for WA

David Shoebridge, Australian Greens, Senator for NSW

Barbara Pocock, Australian Greens, Senator for South Australia

Nick McKim, Australian Greens, Senator for Tasmania

Steph Hodgins-May, Australian Greens, Senator for Victoria

Sarah Hanson-Young, Australian Greens, Senator for SA

Dorinda Cox, Australian Greens, Senator for WA

Max Chandler-Mather, Australian Greens, Member for Griffith

Lidia Thorpe, Senate, Senator for Victoria

Sarah Hanson-Young, The Australian Greens, Senator for South Australia

Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Greens MP for Ryan, Federal Member

Larissa Waters, Australian Greens, Senator for Queensland

Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens, Deputy Leaser & Senator for NSW

Caz Heise, Candidate, Independent candidate for Cowper

Claire Miles, Claire Miles Independent, Independent candidate

Adam Martin, Independent for Braddon, Candidate

Jessie Price, Independent Candidate for Bean

Imelda Adamson Agars, Fusion Party Australia, Senate Candidate South Australia

Verity Cooper, Independent for Sturt, Candidate

Dani Hunterford, Australian Greens, Candidate for Fenner

Janet Shelley, Australian Greens, Federal Candidate for Clark

Mandy Nolan, Australian Greens, Candidate for Richmond

Huong Truong, Australian Greens, Candidate for Fraser

Vanessa Bleyer, Australian Greens, Senate Candidate

Alysia Regan, Australian Greens, Candidate for Indi

Erin Morrow, Australian Greens, Candidate for Braddon

Ponraj Krishna pandi, The Greens Victoria, Candidate for Gellibrand

Luke Skinner, The Australian Greens, Candidate for Spence

Remah Naji, The Greens, Candidate for Moreton

Sarah Newman, Victorian Greens, Candidate for Hawke

Hannah Thomas, The Greens, Candidate for Grayndler

Mandy Nolan, The Australian Greens, Candidate for Richmond

Joanna Wells, SA Greens, Candidate for Boothby

Emilie Flynn, Greens, Candidate for Corio

Vinnie Batten, Australian Greens, Candidate for Dickson

Rhonda Garad, The Greens, Candidate for Bruce

Trenton Hoare, The Australian Greens, Senate Candidate for Tasmania

John Photakis, Australian Greens, Greens Candidate for Kingston

Blair McFarland, NT greens, Candidate Lingiari

Amy Mills, Victorian Greens, Candidate for Deakin

Aia Newport, The Greens, Senate Candidate

Georgia Beardman, Australian Greens, Federal Candidate for Forrest

Alana Galli-McRostie, The Greens Party, Candidate for Goldstein

Owen Fitzgerld, The Australian Greens, Candidate for Franklin

Nick Ward, The Greens, Candidate for Wentworth

Annie Price, Australian Greens Victoria, Candidate for Indi

Clint Uink, The Greens (WA), Candidate for Swan

Liz Tilly, Greens, Candidate for Parramatta

Samuel Moore, The Australian Greens, Australian Green’s candidate for Makin

Alana Galli-McRostie, The Greens, Candidate for Goldstein

Matthew Wright, The Greens South Australia, Candidate for Hindmarsh

Amy Mills, Victorian Greens, Candidate for Deakin

Sonya Semmens, Greens, Candidate for Macnamara

Tim Randall, Australian Greens (Victoria), Candidate for Chisholm

Sam Carter, The Greens, Candidate for Bean

Ponraj Krishna pandi, Greens, Candidate for Gellibrand

Vinnie Batten, Australian Greens, Federal candidate for Dickson

Sophie Greer, Australian Greens, Candidate for Perth

Remah Naji, Queensland Greens, Candidate for Moreton

Sarah Newman, Australian Greens Victoria, Federal Candidate for Hawke

Stephen Bates, Queensland Greens, Member for Brisbane

Phillip Musumeci, Greens, Candidate in Leichhardt

John Photakis, Australian Greens, Greens Candidate for Kingston

Manal Bahsa, The Greens, Candidate for Barton

Vinnie Batten, Australian Greens, Federal Candidate for Dickson

Hannah Thomas Greens Candidate for Grayndler

Emilie Flynn, Greens, Candidate

Jackie Carter, Australian Greens, Candidate for Kooyong

Tara Burnett, Australian Greens Victoria, Candidate for Cooper

Trenton Hoare, The Australian Greens, Senate Candidate – Tasmania

Payal TIWARI, Australian Greens, Federal elected candidate – Holt

Dani Hunterford, Australian Greens, Candidate for Fenner

Jy Sandford, The Greens, Greens Candidate for Jagajaga

Other signatories

Nicki Hutley, Economist

Chris Richardson, Economist

Nicholas Gruen, Lateral Economics, Economist

Jeff Borland, University of Melbourne, Professor of Economics

Devin Bowles, ACTCOSS, CEO

Ross Womersley, SACOSS, CEO

Louise Giolitto, WACOSS, CEO

Juanita Pope, VCOSS, CEO

Cara Varian, NCOSS, CEO

Aimee McVeigh, QCOSS, CEO

Adrienne Picone, TasCOSS, CEO

Sally Sievers, NTCOSS, CEO

Lisa Annese, CEW, Chief Executive Officer

Carolyn Nikoloski, Mental Health Australia, CEO

Terese Edwards, Single Mother Families Australia Inc, Chief Executive

Ben Phillips, Australian National University, Associate Professor

Saul Eslake, Corinna Economic Advisory Pty Ltd, Founder and Principal

Claudia Fatone, Women’s Legal Service Victoria, CEO

Karen Walsh, National Shelter, CEO

Daniel Moorfield, SecondBite, CEO

Sebastian Zagarella, People with Disability Australia, CEO

Robyn Sampson, Baptist Care Australia, CEO

Corinne Dobson, ACT Shelter, CEO

Sharon Callister, Mission Australia, CEO

Hannah Badland, RMIT, Director, Social Equity Research Centre

Maiy Azize, Everybody’s Home, National Spokesperson

Katherine Boyle, Welfare Rights Centre, CEO

Jennie Gray, Women’s Legal Service WA, CEO

James Goth, OzHarvest, CEO

Stacey Thomas, The Wyatt Trust, CEO

Lara Freidin, Women’s Legal Services Australia, Executive Officer

David Morawetz, Social Justice Fund, Founder and Director

Kate Colvin, Homelessness Australia, CEO

Kasy Chambers, Anglicare Australia, Executive Director

Sofia Hadiak, Language Trainers, Tutor

Karen McKinnon, Relationships Australia, Behaviour Change Practitioner

Kylie Van Alphen, St John’s Youth Services, Service Manager

Jantine Eddelbuttel

Andrew Bartlett

Paul Turner

Alison Merridew

L Sutcliffe

Tania Wyatt

Susan Baker

Joshuah Yeend

Helen Pokorny, WNSW LHD Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Ctee, Carer Rep

Charmaine Philipse

Nicole Punte, Sacred Heart Misson, Relationship Manager

Sirani McNeill

Holly Czinke, Lived Experience Matters pty ltd, Director

Fiona Pettiford

Natasa Lazarevic, University of Wollongong, Associate Lecturer

Elysia Raphael

Susan Helyar, Helyar & Co, Consultant

Cal Castles

Lee Geary, Bridge Housing, Executive Director, People, Culture and Brand

Matt Johns, DSS, A/g Assistant Director – Metadata – Performance and Evaluation

Thea Butler, Welfare Rights Centre, Community Engagement Manager

Shorna Moore

Dani Markovic, CIS Glen Eira, Manager

Emilie Priday

Tony Leabeater

Erin Snelgrove

Nick Leslie

Remi Kimpton

Meagan Skehill

Morag Williams

Marie Cradock

Olivia Killeen

Debra Thorsen, Semaphore Music Festival, Event Organiser

Jeanette Evans, Self, Retired

Dorte Planert

Karen Lange

Jill Shirvington, Dominican Sisters, Retired

Gabriel Mafi, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Member

Rebecca Reynolds

Duncan Bainbridge, Anti Poverty Network, Coordinator

Julie Smith, ANU, Honorary Associate Professor

Angela Scarfe, Australian Association of Social Workers, Senior Policy Advisor

Cassandra Barford, N/A, Registered Nurse, community member.

Emily Hamilton, Community Legal Centres Australia, Advocacy and Communications Manager

Grace Impala

Jean Shelley

Caroline Hunt, The Australian Clinical Psychology Association, President

Hayley Brown

Jenny Macaffer, Adult learning Australia, CEO

Susan Tilley

Helen Byrne, Community Information and Support Victoria Inc, Trainer

Deborah Cobb-Clark AO, University of Sydney, Professor

Gilroy HUCKSTEPP

Terese Williams, Gateway Family Services, Acting CEO

sophie Corbett, Gateway Family Services, Clinical Lead

Roger Wilkins, The University of Melbourne, Professorial Fellow

Guyonne Kalb

Kate Wheller, Community Information and Support Victoria, CEO

Bryanna Connell, Barwon Community Legal Service, Chief Executive Officer

Natalie Ross, Welfare Rights Centre, Principal Solicitor

Carla Treloar, Centre for Social Research in Health, and Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW, Professor

Georgia Phin, Welfare Rights Centre, Administration Officer

Thea Butler, Welfare Rights Centre, Community Engagement Manager

Donna Flood, Welfare Rights Centre, Senior Solicitor

Tammy Wolffs

Karen Rinke

Mary Tinney, Sisters of Mercy, Member

Gaby Ramia

John Falzon Sociologist and Writer

Billie Sankovic, Western Sydney Community Forum, Chief Executive Officer

Morwenna Richardson, Anglicare WA ( Kalgoorlie), Financial Counsellor

Elizabeth McKay

Matt Gardiner, Cancer Council Qld, CEO

Chrisanta Muli, Oxfam Australia, Acting Chief Executive

Samantha Levey, Carlton Fitzroy Financial Counselling Service, Financial Counsellor

Annie Barker

Barbara Finch

Joanne Fletcher

Leo Patterson Ross, Tenants’ Union of NSW, CEO

David Barwick

Jackie Wurm

Kate Fox, The South Australian Financial Counsellors Association, CEO

Joanne Flavel, University of Adelaide, Senior Research Fellow

Andrew Finegan

Paula Davies

Gabrielle Leago

Sophia Aziz

Craig Manning, Retired, Research Scientist

Deborah Sharp

Darani Stocker

Peter Hamill Retired educator

Stephen Leago

Kerrie-anne Mckay

Heather Stonehouse

Lee Murray

Gerard Thomas

Michael Raper, Citizens for Justice, Director

Gregory Olden

Gregory Olden

Cliff Fraser

Shellie Kavanagh

Jalquin Waidelich

dan endicott

Geoffrey Mitchell

Michael Gliksman, Michael Gliksman, Physician

Jen Gay

Peta Terry

Jennifer Cheesman

Jane Glover

Nicholas Anderson

Penelope Harvey

Angela Smith

Cassandra Barford

Karen Rinke

Karen Rinke

Sue Eldridge

Judith Cluley

Katelyn Bamford

Sawsan Madina, SBS, Former Head of Television

G Bradbury

Sarah Aldred

Lisa McLachlan

Nicole Cross

Jules Vovos

My Trinh

Hele Murti

Janelle Dunn

Tony Pietropiccolo, Centrecare Inc., Director

Michelle Preston, OZHarvest, Volunteer coordinator

Jennifer Nicholls

Gabrielle Leago

Sarah Quinton, Valuing Children Initiative, Development Executive

Jepke Goudsmit

Patricia Coghlan

Robert Ramsden

Monica Skinner

Eileen Baldry AO

Tracey Leupen

Raewyn Darlington, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, Financial Counsellor

Olivia Ball

David Stuart, Colormaker Industries, Managing Director

Damon Turnbull

Greg Windred

Bree Wyeth, Directions Health Services, psychiatrist

Tanya Williams

Christine Anderson

Stuart Cameron, Wesley Mission, CEO

Natacha Tracy

Brendan Gleeson

Kim Salisbury

Lisa Byrnes, Rural Australians for Refugees Southern Highlands, Convenor

Caitlyn Stocker

Jennifer Jordan

Fiona Carberry

Ivan Kotzur

Mark Cullen

Michael Martin

Karen Perkins

David Ward

Victoria Quade

David Aslat

Elizabeth O’Brien

A R Polack

James Scurrah

Armin Lunsmann

Peta Newbound

Claire Bettington

Harriet Daly

Cathy Fry

Marea Roberts

Don Hutton

Lysnette Thomas

Harry Knowles

Ann Lawrence

Ryan Gallaty, Mountains Community Resource Network, Communications & Administration

Patrick martin

julie foreman

Margaret Wicks, Financial Counselling Hunter Valley Project, financial counsellor

Brendan David

Jane Gorrie

Janneia Wilde

Margaret Jack

Michael Karadjis, Western Sydney University, Lecturer

William Smith

Michael Windsor

David Gillett

Karen Holt

Karen Cook

Adam Adam Brown

Brian Ahern

Georgina Ogilvie, Financial Counselling Australia, Financial Counsellor

Brad Aldred

Marie Coleman AOPSMDUniv

michael clifford, Royal Children’s Hospital, doctor

Jenni Anderson, Mission Australia, National Programs Manager

Phil Cutts, Grampians disAbility Advocacy, Individual Advocate

Bradley Powe

Marissa Kyriakopoulos

Dr Desire Kozlowski

Sari Smith

Daniel Berg, ex-Lifeline, telephone support

Toby Freeman, University Of Adelaide, Researcher

Kendal Drew, Strategic CareercManagement, Director

Elly-may Hamilton

Crina Virgona

Bill Joyce

Michael Kallidis

Beth Charleston

Bea Bleile

Robert Bruce

James Cruz, CPSU, Delegate

Patricia Roberts

Genevieve Barrr

Andrew Priest

Peter Perry

Jade Blakkarly, WIRE, CEO

Alexander Macpherson

Murray Torney

Alan Gray, Bush Money Mob, Managing Director

Sarah McFadden, Wesley Mission, Financial Counsellor

Brad Byquar

Jana Favero, ASRC, Deputy CEO

Giulio Bortolozzo, Education, Educator

Elizabeth Brooks Retired

Geoffrey Buchanan

Taree Brearley, Private Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapist

Eva Cox AO

Karen van Woudenberg, Blue Mountains Family Support Services t/a Thrive  Services, CEO

philip mendes, Monash University, Professor

Emeline Gaske, Australian Services Union, National Secretary

Elizabeth Gray, RJ and EA Gray

Evan Hadkins

James Brus, Sydney music scene, Musician

Catherine Wilson

Josh Fergeus, City of Monash, Councillor

Daniel Scoullar, Social Change Projects, Director

Melissa-Anne Clarke

Emmet de Bhaldraithe

Stephen Macready

Joshua Page

John G, AIVL, CEO

Erin Kelly, NA, NA

Pauline Haas

Angela Perlidis

Chris Povey, Justice Connect, Chief Executive Officer

Thomas Walker, Think Forward, CEO

George Bennett

Juanita McLaren

Wendy Field

Michelle Macarthy

Stephanie Williams

N Agerman

Joanne Flavel, University of Adelaide, Senior Research Fellow

Joanna Rostami, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, CEO

Nicky Sloan, Community Industry Group, CEO

Therese Porter

Therese Porter

Philippa Gately

Mark Jeffery, Anti-Poverty Week, National Director

Megan Lee, CPSA, General Manager

Jenny Macaffer, Adult Learning Australia, CEO

Milo Kerslake

Scott Douglas

Tim Woodruff, Doctors Reform Society, Vice president

Annette Hackett GP

Rosalie Schultz, Doctors for the Environment, Member

Peter Sainsbury

Ben Bartlett GP

George Bennett

Naomi Lewis

Jann Dark

Philip Mendes, Monash University, Professor

Drew Wolfendale, Fusion Party (FUSION | Planet Rescue | Whistleblower Protection | Innovation), President

Rebecca Glenn, Centre for Women’s Economic Safety, CEO

Alex Jago, Pirate Party Australia, Secretary

Sheree Limbrick, Health Justice Australia, Chief Executive Officer

Sue Bolton, Socialist Alliance, City of Merri-bek Councillor

Pip Dargan

Jamie Crosby, Families Australia, Chief executive Officer

Jana Favero, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Deputy CEO

Alexandra King, Tasmanian Council for Social Service (TasCOSS), Policy Officer

Claerwen Little, UnitingCare Australia, National Director

Emma Agostino, ACTCOSS, Senior Policy Adviser

Ros Baxter, Goodstart Early Learning, CEO

Tabatha Feher, Life without Barriers, Chief Advisor

Jenny Sandilands, ACTCOSS, Head of Policy

John Gobeil, AIVL, CEO

Violet Roumeliotis, SSI, CEO

Domenique Meyrick, Financial Counselling Australia, CEO

Deborah Tsorbaris, Centre for Excellence in child and family welfare, CEO

Kate Allen, Jesuit Social Services, General Manager, Policy & Advocacy

Terry Slevin, Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), Chief Exevutive Officer

Paul Wright, Mission Australia, National Manager for Policy, Advocacy & Government Relations

Leslie Gerard Thomas, Activist

Kate Allingham, Economic Justice Australia, CEO

Mish Mish Pony, Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association, CEO

Karen Bevan, Full Stop Australia, CEO

Edwina MacDonald, Australian Council of Social Service, Chief Strategy Officer

Sam Street, CAP Australia, Church Partnerships Manager

Kelly Bowey

John Engeler, Shelter NSW, CEO

Jenn FitzGerald