Catholic and other religious organisations who work with the marginalised have slammed the inadequacy of the federal government’s $50 a fortnight JobSeeker raise.
Jesuit Social Services (JSS) said the decision lacked empathy and would continue to condemn many Australians to poverty.
JSS CEO Julie Edwards said that, although the COVID-19 pandemic has made it abundantly
clear that the previous payment of $40 a day was not enough to live on, the government has decided to increase the rate by a paltry $3.57 a day.
‘This will continue to keep JobSeeker recipients below the poverty line and mean they will be forced to struggle to pay for essentials that every Australian needs, such as housing, food and medication. This does not allow people to lead a dignified life and does not give them the opportunities they need to flourish and reach their potential.’
St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia national president Claire Victory said the Society was dumbfounded by the government’s continued inability to increase a rate that has been condemned by business leaders, social services groups, union leaders and members of its own government.
‘Twenty-five dollars a week is an inadequate response to the poverty experienced by the people forced survive on unemployment benefits. It’s an afront to human dignity,’ Ms Victory said.
‘Twenty-five dollars a day would have been closer to the mark and would have brought income support in line with other pensions.’
Ms Victory said for government to expect charities such as Vinnies to meet people’s needs as a matter of course was poor public policy and pointed to a ‘government that is out of touch with the lived experience of many of its constituents’.
Mission Australia has called on the government to urgently reconsider the decision and commit to an adequate increase to JobSeeker and related allowances.
CEO James Toomey slammed the new rate.
‘To increase the rate by only $50 a fortnight is an appalling decision. This rate is far too low, and we will see the continuing impacts of this on rates of disadvantage, poverty and homelessness in Australia.
‘Already, many people surviving on income support are facing immense distress and insecurity. Moving to a JobSeeker rate of $615.70 a fortnight – or around $44 a day – is unfathomable and will not help get people back into work.’
Mr Toomey said the government had stood at the precipice of an historic opportunity to reduce poverty, homelessness and to change lives. Instead it produced a ‘punitive’ JobSeeker rate that would undoubtedly have a negative impact on many people.