Trapping us in poverty: Welfare recipients urge government to raise the rate
Five years since the announcement of the Coronavirus Supplement, welfare recipients have had enough.
Today we “celebrated” five years since the Morrison Government announced the Coronavirus Supplement and raised the rate of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, and limited other welfare payments to around the poverty line and suspended “mutual” obligations during the initial waves of COVID shutdowns.
Overnight, they passed legislation to introduce it, and showed to millions of us that it could be done — they, and Governments since, have been choosing not to.
On the same date this year, indexation will increase payments by a measly $1.55 per week, a stark difference to the $275 per week Coronavirus Supplement payment.
To commemorate this, the Australian Unemployed Workers' Union, Nobody Deserves Povery, Antipoverty Centre, Anti-Poverty Network Queensland, Anti-Poverty Network South Australia and other anti-poverty advocates held a press conference at Parliament House to look back on that time, and call on the Government to raise the rate of all income support payments above the poverty line and abolish "mutual" obligations as a first priority coming into the Federal election.
Next Monday 24 March, we will also be hosting an online event to discuss and reflect the Coronavirus Supplement and the impact it had on people during it’s short-lived time, and compare that to how people are struggling below the poverty line today.
We encourage everyone who is interested in reducing poverty and inequality to join us, including people on low incomes, unionists, community sector workers and all who support us. This event is free for all to attend. Registration is required.
Quotes
Avery Howard, spokesperson for the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union and JobSeeker recipient:
With the fourth Budget from this Government being handed down next week, they have shown us time and time again that they are choosing to keep millions of us in poverty.
The Supplement made it obvious that they can vastly alleviate poverty in Australia, but they are intentionally keeping us back in some misguided attempt at a ‘responsible budget’.
There's never anything responsible about trapping people in poverty.
Fiona Moore, spokesperson for Nobody Deserves Poverty and Disability Support Pension recipient:
The Coronavirus Supplement in 2020 showed that governments can choose to lift people out of poverty overnight.
With the Supplement, people were happier and healthier – able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables and the medications they needed. Many were able to actually find work in this time without the added survival pressures of poverty.
Keeping people in poverty is unnecessary, and subsidies are no substitute to giving people cash to support themselves.
Jayden Oxton-White, spokesperson for Anti-Poverty Network Queensland and Disability Support Pension recipient:
2020 was the first time in decades that we had a substantial raise to JobSeeker. This showed people that both major parties were well aware just how dire the situation is for people on income support payments.
The fact that they then took it away further illustrates just how callous this colonial system is to those who are disenfranchised.
Media contact: Avery Howard
0466 155 060 / media@auwu.org.au
