Raise the Rate Open Letter 2024 March 2024 The Letter Dear Prime Minister, There are more than one million people receiving income support payments that are so low that they force people to choose between paying their rent or buying enough food. Unfortunately, the number of people in this position is set to rise. The Reserve Bank expects 120,000 more people to be out of paid work by next year. The job market is already extremely competitive for people on income support. In December 2023, Anglicare found that there were 26 people on Jobseeker competing for each entry-level job. The longer people remain on income support, the harder it is to transition into paid work. Right now, 80% of people receive the Jobseeker payment for 12 months or more. To protect people from being left behind, we urge you to adopt the priority recommendation of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee and substantially lift income support so everyone can cover the basics. Lifting Jobseeker is not only the right thing to do for people; it would soften the effects of a downturn and help stabilise the economy. At $55 a day, the current rate of Jobseeker is not enough to cover the essentials like food and medicine let alone get a haircut or buy a new shirt for a job interview. While the $20 a week increase announced at the May Budget was welcome, it was not enough to prevent widespread distress and deprivation. In September 2023, ACOSS research found that three quarters of people receiving income support ate less or skipped meals and 6 in 10 had difficulty affording the medical care they needed. We cannot leave people with the least behind. We call on the Federal Government to substantially increase Jobseeker, Youth Allowance, and related income support payments to ensure everyone has the support they need during tough times. Sign the letter (See the 500+ signatories below the form.) 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Signatories David Pocock, Independent Senator for the ACT Jacqui Lambie, Independent Senator for Tasmania Lidia Thorpe, Independent Senator for VIC Kate Chaney, Independent MP Federal Member for Curtin Zoe Daniel, Independent MP Federal Member for Goldstein Helen Haines, Independent MP Federal Member for Indi Monique Ryan, Independent MP Federal Member for Kooyong Allegra Spender, Independent MP Federal Member for Wentworth Zali Steggall, Independent MP Federal Member for Warringah Kylea Tink, Independent MP Federal Member for North Sydney Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP Federal Member for Clark Bridget Archer, Liberal MP Federal Member for Bass Cathy McGowan, MD and Former Federal Member for Indi Robert Tickner, Former Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Affairs Penny Allman-Payne, Australian Greens Senator for QLD Adam Bandt, Australian Greens Leader and Federal Member for Melbourne Stephen Bates, Australian Greens Federal Member for Brisbane Max Chandler-Mather, Australian Greens Federal Member for Griffith Dorinda Cox, Australian Greens Senator for WA Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens Australian Greens Deputy Leader & Senator for NSW Sarah Hanson-Young, Australian Greens Senator Nick McKim, Australian Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, Australian Greens Senator for SA Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Leader in the Senate Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Australian Greens Federal Member for Ryan Peter Whish-Wilson, Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania Mark Taylor, Australian Services Union, National Conference Delegate Sally McManus, ACTU Secretary Kate Allingham, Economic Justice Australia CEO Eileen Baldry AO, UNSW Sydney Professor Emerita Criminology Julia Baron, Victorian Student Representative Council CEO Josephine Barraket AM, University of Melbourne Professor and Director, Melbourne Social Equity Institute Jade Blakkarly, WIRE CEO Jeff Borland, University of Melbourne Katherine Boyle, Welfare Rights Centre NSW CEO Geoffrey Buchanan, The Australian National University Research Fellow Zena Burgess, Australian Psychological Society CEO Jennie Burns, MercyCare Executive Director Stu Cameron, Wesley Mission CEO and Superintendent Carolyn Cartwright, MoneyMob Talkabout Managing Director Brianna Casey, Foodbank Australia CEO Kasy Chambers, Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kate Colvin, Homelessness Australia CEO Bryanna Connell, Barwon Community Legal Service CEO Kay Cook, Swinburne University of Technology Associate Dean Research Carmel Crouch, STEPS Group Managing Director Jodie Darge, Project Youth CEO Christina DiPierdomenico, DIVRS Kendal Drew, Strategic Career Management Director Bernarda Abbeiiy Edoway, Bunanii Nation Religion Director Julie Edwards, Jesuit Social Services CEO John Falzon, ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance Visiting Fellow Jana Favero, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Acting CEO Joanne Flavel, University of Adelaide Research Fellow Kate Fox, The South Australian Financial Counsellors Association (includes NT) Executive Officer Emeline Gaske, Australian Services Union Assistant National Secretary Rebecca Glenn, Centre for Women’s Economic Safety Ltd CEO John Gobeil, AIVL CEO Beth Goldblatt, Faculty of Law University of Technology Sydney Professor Cassandra Goldie AO, ACOSS CEO James Goth, OzHarvest CEO Jennie Gray, Women’s Legal Service WA CEO Alan Gray, Earth Garden Foundation Ltd Managing Director Caroline Hunt, The Australian Clinical Psychology Association President Angela Jackson, Impact Economics and Policy Lead Economist Tom Johnson, Council to Homeless Persons Deputy CEO Bev Jowle, Consumer Credit Legal Service CEO Rebecca Jury, Waratah Support Centre CEO Michael Karadjis, University of Western Sydney Lecturer Kon Karapanagiotidis, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre CEO Dr Desirée Kozlowski, Southern Cross University Associate Professor Sally Stevenson, Illawarra Women’s Health Centre Executive Director Josh Fergeus, City of Monash Councillor Tim Leach, Community Legal Centres Australia CEO Renee Leon, Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor Meron Lewis, The University of Queensland Research Fellow Sawsan Madina, Former Head of SBS Television Donna McAuliffe, Griffith University Professor of Social Work Philip Mendes, Monash University Department of Social Work Professor Domenique Meyrick, Financial Counselling Australia co-CEO Carol Mitchell, JEDO: Justice, Ecology and Development Office, Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, WA Director of JEDO David Morawetz, Social Justice Fund Founder and Director Melissa Morgan, Australian Federation of Disability Organisation Project coordinator Nerida Nettelbeck, MoneyMob Talkabout Chairperson Penny Newson, Central Coast Community Council Inc CEO Kris Newton, Mountains Community Resource Network (MCRN) Manager Stephanie Oatley, Platform Youth Services CEO Kate O’Hara, Foodbank WA Chief Executive Officer Kelly O’Shanassy, Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Bryce Pace, Bryce Pace – Autism Advocate Founder Peter Perry, Blue Mountains Food Services GM Anthony Pietropiccolo, Centrecare Inc. Director Andrew Podger, Australian National University Gaby Ramia, The University of Sydney Professor of Policy and Society Dr Harry Randhawa, Uniting Country Housing Ltd Chief Executive Sarah Reed, QuIVAA Chair Chris Richardson, RichInsight Sandra Robinson, Flinders University Senior Lecturer, Course Coordinator, Social Impact Violet Roumeliotis, Settlement Services International CEO Mel Rowe, Orana House General Manager Robyn Sampson, Baptist Care Australia CEO Marie Segrave, University of Melbourne Professor, School of Social and Political Sciences Nicky Sloan, Community Industry Group CEO Fiona Stanley, UWA & Uni Melb Patron & Research Professor David Stuart, Colormaker Industries Australia Managing Director Imogen Sturni, ASU Victorian Private Sector Branch Secretary Stacey Thomas, The Wyatt Trust CEO Carla Treloar, UNSW Sydney Scientia Professor Deborah Tsorbaris, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare CEO Karen van Woudenberg, Blue Mountains Family Support Services t/a Thrive Services CEO Hang Vo, Sacred Heart Mission Chief Executive Officer Karyn Walsh, Micah Projects CEO Kate Wheller, Community Information & Support Victoria Executive Officer Sebastian Zagarella, People With Disability Australia CEO Paul Zahra, Australian Retailers Association CEO Karletta Abianac Amirah Aboutaleb Brian Ahern Tonje Akerholt Sarah Aldred Brad Aldred Jane Allison Christine Allsopp Jenni Anderson Monika Anderson Nicholas Anderson Chris Anderson Nardu Anderson Judy Andrews David Aslat Peter Baines Lynda Baker Olivia Ball Kate Bamford Sussan Bardsley Cassandra Barford Isobel Barker Laura Barnes Genevieve Barr David Barwick Lyndsay Bassett Carmen Beauchamp Janelle Beecham Daniel Berg Claire Bettington Lyn Bevington Iman Biady John Blackmore Elizabeth Blair Bea Bleile Michele Blommestein Tamara Blyth Jette Bollerup Giulio Bortolozzo Jamie Bosanko Karyn Bosomworth Liz Bower Sean Bowes G Bradbry Michelle Bradshaw Jessica Brauer Taree Brearley Elizabeth Brooks Michelle Brown Pauline Brown Adam Brown Marree Bruce Robert Bruce James Brus Emma Bruty Laura Buck Emma Buhse Imogen Bunting Margaret Burns Katherine Burrows Brad Byquar Lisa Byrnes Andrew Byrnes Sam Caarels Santino Caporarello Fiona Carberry Claire Carlin Thomas Carroll Justine Cathcart Fred Chaney Beth Charleston Jennifer Cheesman Helene Christensen Helene Christensen Helene Clark Denise Clarke Marion Clarke Lauren Clarke Peter Clemson Marie-Pierre Cleret Michael Clifford Julia Close Judith Cluley Patricia Coghlan Caitlin Coleman Lesley Conway Kevin Conway Hilary Cook Karen Cook Bernadette Cooper Ellis Sophie Corbett Donna Corbin Chantel Corless Eva Cox Nicole Cross Jennifer Crossan Kate Croucher Sarah Cruickshank James Cruz Lynne Csorba Chezarne Cuffe Mark Cullen Harley Dale Helen Dalley-Fisher Harriet Daly Frances D’Ambra Lee Daniels Raewyn Darlington Brendan David Paula Davies Hugh de Beer Tomas de Bhaldraithe Giancarlo de Vera Debra Delaine Jodi Denehy Liz Depers Clare Dempsey Ghislaine Dijkstra Julian Disney Flinn Donovan Amatus Douw Danielle Duffield-Sorell Jan Dunn Sue Eldridge Dan Endicott Phaedra Engel-Harrison Jeanette Evans Maxine Eyles Alan Fairhead Karen Famlonga Mairead Farrell Samantha Fenn Patrick Fensham Andrew Finegan Paul Ford Julie Foreman Ric Forsyth Nina Franceschi Cliff Fraser Andrew Frazer Toby Freeman Barry French Cathy Fry Paul Fuller Ryan Gallaty Joseph Gallo Warren Gardiner Kerrie Gardner Timothy Gaut Jenny Gay David Gillett Brendan Gleeson Michael Gliksman Jane Glover Maria Teresa Gomez Veronica Goodman Carolyn Goodman Alison Goodwin Ruth Gordon Jane Gorrie Jepke Goudsmit Pauline Gowing Karen Grainger Elizabeth Gray Vivienne Grayling Sam Grebert Carmel Green Kate Green Gabriella Gresz Pam Gritten Rich Guerin Pauline Haas Evan Hadkins Linda Hahn David Haidon Elly-may Hamilton Maria Harper Robyn Harris Saffron Harris Katie Harris Kim Hawksley Louise Hayes Sian Henderon Clifford Hickey Lesley Holden Kerry Holder Karen Holt Don Houston Nigel Howard Vanessa Howe Don Hutton Violet Ifans-McDonald Grace Impala Margaret Jack Nerida Jackson Michelle Jackson Gordon Jacob Carmelina Jacob Colin James Eleonore Johansson Owen Jones Mia Jones Fiona Jones Jennifer Jordan Bill Joyce Rik Jurcevic Vida Jurys Michael Kallidis Shellie Kavanagh Paulette Kay Meredith Kefford Liz Kelly Rowan Kelly Erin Kelly Olivia Kate Killeen Vikki King Harry Knowles Ivan Kotzur Yvonne Kwan Selvin Kwong Marissa Kyriakopoulos Julie La Barba Julie Lamonby Clare Langworthy James Larkin Kathryn Lawrence Ann Lawrence Joudy Lazkany Stephen Leago Gabrielle Leago Sylvie Leber Penny Leemhuis Eithne Leita Jordan Leovic Tracey Leupen Samantha Levey Dallas Lewis Naomi Lewis Stuart Lightman Cherie Livotto Jennifer London Fernando Longo Michelle Lotarski Victoria Lourdaise Armin Lunsmann Jeff Maas Stephen Macready Kath Madgwick Melanie Maher Anne Maloney Philippa Mansor Stephanie Marsh Daryl Marshman Patrick Martin Michael Martin Annette Maurer River Mazurkiewicz Giuseppe Mazzarella Jackie McArthur Sue McBride Lily McCallum Alison McClelland Catherine McCorkindale Sarah McFadden Catherine McIntyre Kerrie-anne Mckay Elizabeth McKay Andrea McKew Lisa McLachlan Dawn McLougglin Genevieve McMahon Caitlin McMillan-Hawley Siobhan Meerman Storm Meiying Liu Kieran Merritt Shane Miles Jennifer Miller Nyssa Millington Linda Mina Geoffrey Mitchell Gary Moore Melissa Morgan Nathan Morris Ingrid MulderAnita Mullaly Robyn Muller Janet Munro Lee Murray Helen Murti Sukanya Nath Greg Natt Peta Newbound Leonard Newman Jennifer Nicholls Michelle Nicholson Peter Nisbet Marilyn Nixon Susan Nolan Mary Anne Noone Christine Norris K O Elizabeth O’Brien Georgina Ogilvie Anne O’Grady Gregory Olsen Philip O’Neill Jaqueline Outram Josh Page Nicola Parin Yvonne Parker Cassandra Parkinson Kaaren Pennings Karen Perkins Fiona Pettiford Lorraine Phelan Samuel Phillpott Angela Pierce-Jones Lynette Pitt Otis Platt A R Polack Helen Post Bradley Powe Skye Predavec Michelle Preston Andrew Priest Cass Purdon Renee Pyers Victoria Quade Mary Quinn Katherine Quinn David Quinn Sarah Quinton Robert Ramsden Barbara Rankmore Michael Raper Marilyn Raven Patricia Reeves Chris Reilly Morwenna Richardson Raff Righetti Melissa Riley Karen Rinke Freya Rivers Marea Roberts Patricia Roberts Tom Rubin Alice Russell Jan Ryan Michael Sadler Kylie Salisbury Kim Salisbury Marselino Samkakai Peggy Sanders Judith Sanderson Maryann Sarah Alison Sayer-Jones Lachlan Sboro Kim Scanlon Amanda Sceney Lyn Schofield Margaret Schofield Paula Schulz Ann Scott Jacqui Scott Marguerite Scott Daniel Scoullar James Scurrah Lizabeth Seedy Peta Severn Michelle Shackleton Deborah Sharp Marie Sheedy Jean Shelley Charlie Sheridan Cindy Sheridan Robyn Shields Andrea Simmons Margaret Sinclair Meagan Skehill Monica Skinner Angela Smith Ann Smith Elizabeth Smith Jeffrey Smith Lynette Smith Sari Smith Tara Smith William (Gus) Smith Emma Softly Victor Sojo Lauren Sotiropoulos Susan Stablum Kerryn Stanford Jane Stanley Helen Stein Linda Sterling-Levis Darani Stocker Caitlyn Stocker Heather Stonehouse Charles Stott Thomas Studans Laura Summerfield Cath Sweeney Teresa Szunejko Stacey Tabert Frances Tafra Dave Taylor Sue Taylor Peta Terry Gerard Thomas Carolyn Thomson Sarah Thorne Jack Thornton Mary Tinneyh Leonie Tiss Karen Tomlinson Murray Torney Tatjana Tosovic Felicity Townsend Natacha Tracy My Trinh Zhanna Trofimova Lucinda Tucker Damon Turnbull Vicki Turner Amber Van Dam Helen van Gemert Manon van Kouswijk Campbell Vearing Joanne Villani Crina Virgona Alison Von der Borch Konrad Von Herren Jules Vovos Jalquin Waidelich Chris Walker Gillian Walsh Brenda Wand David Ward Margot Waring Wendy Watson Brad Webb Leanne Weber Elisha West Emma Whiting Margaret Wicks Andy Wiechnik Stephen Wigney Janneia Wilde Melody Williams Morag Williams Tanya Williams Catherine Wilson Michael Windsor Tammy Wolffs Loong Wong Robyn Wood Tracy Wright Bree Wyeth Diana Yallop Jaime Yallup Farrant Anna Ziersch Eman Zohdy