Andrew Leigh

LINDA BURNEY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES

SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES AND THE PREVENTION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

ANDREW LEIGH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CHARITIES

ANTI-POVERTY WEEK A REMINDER THE GOVERNMENT MUST DO BETTER
 

Today marks the end of anti-poverty week.

And as COVID restrictions begin to ease in parts of the country, many families are doing it far tougher than the Government admits.

The economy simply isn’t delivering for those who need it most – too many people are looking for more hours, and many more have simply dropped out of the job market in despair.

Today marks the end of anti-poverty week.

And as COVID restrictions begin to ease in parts of the country, many families are doing it far tougher than the Government admits.

The economy simply isn’t delivering for those who need it most – too many people are looking for more hours, and many more have simply dropped out of the job market in despair.

Almost 2 million Australians are looking for work, or more work.

Over 300,000 more Australians are relying on unemployment payments, comparted to before the pandemic.

And over 300,000 people have also stopped looking for work in the past three months alone.

But the statistics hide the human face of poverty in Australia.

Parents skipping meals so children can eat, couch-surfing, sleeping rough. This simply should not be the case in a country like Australia.

No Australian should live in fear of losing the roof over their head. That’s why an Albanese Labor Government will create a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund to build social and affordable housing.

Australians pulled together during the pandemic. And the community stepped up to help our support organisations, as they experienced extraordinary levels of demand.

Yet the Morrison Government has engaged in a war on charities, attempting to muzzle them from participating in the public debate about how to reduce poverty and inequality.

ENDS

Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra.