ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles is hoping looming elections will spark action. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Peak welfare body, the ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS), has renewed its call for the federal government to substantially increase JobSeeker payments after its new report showed Canberrans are paying at least 20 per cent more for essential goods and services than they did in 2019.
The ACT Cost of Living report for 2024 states the capital has experienced above-inflation increases in prices for education (26.0 per cent), housing (22.8 per cent), medical and hospital services (22.4 per cent), transport (22.3 per cent), childcare (21.4 per cent), food (20.0 per cent) and gas (20.0 per cent) over the past five years.
“There are thousands of Canberrans who saved for a rainy day, only to have it rain for years. We are witnessing a once-in-a-generation economic shift that will grow the wealth gap and make Canberra a less fair place without decisive action,” ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles said.
ACTCOSS argues that welfare payments have not kept up with the pace of general price increases so urgently need to be raised to at least $80 a day from its current daily rate of $54 (paid fortnightly).
It also recommends the ACT Government review its tax and concession system to help low-income earners and trial free public transport for students and concession card holders, along with a raft of other suggestions for both federal and local government.
“A flow-on effect of increased and persistent cost-of-living pressures has been an increase in demand for supports and services provided by our already overstretched and underfunded community sector here in the ACT,” Dr Bowles said.
“The most valuable asset of the ACT is its human capital and as a community, we are allowing this to be squandered during the cost-of-living crisis. Broadening and deepening poverty is locking up our collective human potential.”
St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn CEO Lucy Hohnen said her service was being inundated with families seeking assistance.
“In the last 12 months, a third of the calls to our emergency relief helpline were from people seeking assistance for the first time, and the number one item they come to us for is food. These are people who hold mortgages or are private renters, and in many cases are dual-income households but simply cannot afford to meet their basic needs. We are now helping a much broader demographic in our community who are experiencing poverty,” she said.
ACTCOSS and its federal counterpart ACOSS have presented many similar reports to governments over the past few years but have seen very few of their recommendations implemented.
Dr Bowles is hopeful looming elections will spark action.
“As candidates and voters prepare for the ACT election in October and a federal election by May next year, ACTCOSS is keen to draw their attention to this report, which calls for a range of government actions to alleviate cost of living [pressures] for low-income households and to ensure we have a thriving and sustainable community sector that is accessible by all Canberrans.”
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