Creating Economic Justice and Fairness

Those who rely on income support, such as JobSeeker or Youth Allowance, find it impossible to access many of the basic necessities that others take for granted. Problems are compounded by low rental affordability and increasing costs of utilities, transport and food. Increasingly, families are relying on regular emergency relief.   

Stagnating wages, the drying up of full-time low skill, entry level jobs and a trend toward casual or short contract work, alongside rising inflation, means that more people in employment are not able to earn a ‘living wage’.  

Rising costs of food, accommodation, transport and utilities means that disadvantaged families are increasingly having to make decisions between which bill to pay. Utility costs can send low-income families into bill shock and debt.

People on the lowest incomes spend on average 6.4 per cent of their income on energy, compared to households in the highest income quintile, who pay on average only 1.5 per cent. Electricity is the most expensive utility, peaking during hot summer periods.

Experiences of violence, abuse or neglect are key drivers for homelessness, substance abuse and complex mental health challenges. Currently, there is an average gap of six years between children’s exposure to FDV becoming known to police and health services and children receiving appropriate assessments, support and therapy. 
 
The reasons for this are complex, and include cost and accessibility issues, insufficient funding, and funding structures which limit the types, extent and circumstances in which support may be offered to a child.

The high out of pocket cost of care means that children living in the poorest households are least likely to attend preschool. This leaves them developmentally vulnerable in their first five years of life, and potentially perpetuates the cycle of disadvantage across the life span.  

Furthermore, lack of early childhood education and care options, combined with high costs of these services, poses a significant barrier to employment. This is particularly an issue for women, single parents, shift workers and those living in regional areas.