Prominent Australians support increase to Newstart in May Budget 30 April 2013 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 DOWNLOAD OPEN LETTER 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 GoodaAboriginal 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 QCAustralian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, and author Jane Caro,Author and media commentator Eva Cox AOProfessorial Fellow, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, UTS Dr David MorawetzFounder and Director, Social Justice Fund Miriam LyonsPublic policy advocate and social commentator Les MalezerCo-chair, National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples Ged KearneyPresident. Australian Council of Trade Unions Major Kelvin AlleyNational Secretary, The Salvation Army National Secretariat Matthew BowdenCo-Chief Executive Officer, People with Disability Australia Incorporated Alison BrookNational Executive Officer, Relationships Australia Kasy ChambersExecutive Director, Anglicare Australia Narelle Clay AMChairperson, Homelessness Australia Tim CostelloChief Executive Officer, World Vision Australia Carol CroceExecutive Director, Community Housing Federation of Australia Andrew CummingsExecutive Director, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition Dr John FalzonCEO, St Vincent de Paul Society Carolyn FrohmaderExecutive Director, Women with Disabilities Australia Angelo Gavrielatos,Federal President, Australian Education Union Dr Cassandra GoldieCEO, Australian Council of Social Service Steve HackettExecutive Director, Family Relationships Services Australia Lesley HallCEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations Toby HallCEO, Mission Australia Lin Hatfield Dodds,National Director, UnitingCare Australia Prof Karen HealyPresident, Australian Association of Social Workers John HeathCEO, SANE Australia Anne HollondsCEO, 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 ManenChair, Settlement Council of Australia Ron MellChief Executive Officer, YMCA AUSTRALIA Michael MooreCEO, Public Health Association of Australia Paul O’Callaghan Executive Director, Catholic Social Services Australia Maree O’Halloran AMPresident, National Welfare Rights Network Adrian PisarskiExecutive Officer, Queensland Shelter Inc. Chair, National Shelter Marc Purcell Executive Director, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Frank QuinlanCEO, Mental Health Council of Australia Bishop Christopher SaundersChairman, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Michael SmithNational Convenor, National Association of Community Legal Centres Inc Louise Tarrant National Secretary, United Voice Lee ThomasPresident, Australian Nursing Federation David ThompsonCEO, Jobs Australia Rebecca VassarottiExecutive Director, YWCA Canberra Jo WatsonExecutive Director, National Association of People with HIV Australia