MOUNT Gambier social welfare agency ac.care has backed a national campaign to raise social security payments to counteract the growing burden of increased cost of living pressures.
ac.care homelessness and community services general manager Trish Spark said people needed adequate support while they were studying, looking for work, caring for loved ones and supporting themselves if they have a disability.
The social service is participating in the Raise the Rate national day of action on Thursday and will host a free community barbecue lunch at its Mount Gambier Community Centre as part of efforts to raise awareness of the issue.
The Raise the Rate campaign says the current Newstart rate of $40 per day is too low to provide support and calls for an immediate increase to Newstart and associated allowances by at least $75 a week.
While the cost of living has increased, the rate of Newstart has not been increased in real terms in 25 years.
Ms Spark said Newstart and related payments were now so low they trapped people in poverty.
She rejected claims by some politicians and commentators that work was the best form of welfare.
“Welfare exists explicitly to assist people who don’t have a job,” she said.
“We must therefore be focused on whether social security payments are enough to live on and properly support a person while they look for work, particularly for people who have barriers to getting back into employment and thus need more time.”
Ms Spark said social security payments should be at a level that took into account the needs of people who cannot work, students engaged in full-time learning and people caring for children and other loved ones.
“The current Newstart rate is not enough for a single person to pay rent alone and then there are unavoidable utility bills and food on top of that,” she said.
Ms Spark said staff at ac.care witnessed the impact of insufficient incomes on individuals and families in the Limestone Coast.
“The children of families on Newstart are not able to participate in school excursions, sport or other community activities, which causes them to become isolated from their peers, adding to disadvantage they already experience,” she said.
Australian Council of Social Services Raise the Raise coordinator Pas Forgione said a lack of jobs and ageism were key issues for Newstart recipients.
“Nationally and particularly in regional areas, there just aren’t enough jobs,” he said.
“Older people also tend to be more long-term unemployed, with 50pc of all Newstart recipients being over the age of 40.
“Many of these people have had careers previously, but face discrimination because of their age and they are really struggling.”
The Labor Opposition and the Greens have also called for the payments to be lifted, which would cost $3.3b per year.
Federal MP Tony Pasin said the government was focused on policies such as increasing productivity and moving people from welfare into work.
“No one is saying it’s easy to get by without a job which is why the Morrison Government is absolutely focused on helping unemployed Australians be work ready and creating jobs so working age Australians have the opportunity to gain financial independence,” he said.
While the Morrison Government has resisted calls to increase the payments, a Senate committee is currently investigating the adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support payments.
A report into the issue is due in March 2020.
ac.care’s barbecue lunch will be held from 11.30am to 1.30pm at 22-24 Ferrers Street with the public welcome to attend.
