Sunday 27 March 2011

10% of Australians living in poverty.

"The number of Australians living in poverty, estimated at 2.2 million, will continue to creep up as families buckle under cost of living pressures [...]
More Aussies in need - ACOSS

There are a number of factors, but I blame the Howard Years erosion of basic Pension and Dole rates for a large part of it. Add to that the way Tax breaks for investment (rental) homes have pushed up house prices and thus rents, and the meagre dogs breakfast of "Rent Assistance" and you have a lot of people teetering on the edge of homelessness.

Toss in skyrocketing electricity prices and Centrelink punishing welfare recipients for failing to read their mail by cutting off their payments, and it is no wonder there is a serious problem.

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