December 2022
Thousands of families struggling to meet next week’s rents as a grim Christmas approaches
13 December 2022 Article by Francis Sullivan, as published in The Daily Telegraph As the Reserve Bank lifts interest rates to their highest levels in a decade, the big losers aren't just homeowners but also the hundreds of thousands of low-income renters who are paying more than half of their earnings just trying to keep a roof over...
Power bills for low-income earners to fall after Commonwealth and state governments agree to subsidies
10 December 2022 Millions of people on income support and welfare payments will have their power bills cut under a $1.5 billion plan announced on Friday by Prime Minister Albanese. It is expected power prices will start to fall by mid-next year, after the Federal government struck a deal with the states on a package including discounted...
Nearly a fifth of low-income earners paying more than half their income in private rent
7 December 2022 Some 185,000, or nearly a fifth of low-income private renters, are paying more than half of their household income in rent, well above the accepted maximum tolerable measure of 30 per cent, according to a major new report from leading housing services organisation, Launch Housing. Launch Housing’s 2018 - 2022 Homeless Monitor, says this...
November 2022
New support payment review panel game changer for people living below poverty line
28 November 2022 One of Australia's leading social service networks has welcomed Federal Government plans to establish an independent panel to annually review support payments — such as JobSeeker and parenting payments — ahead of each Federal Budget. The new Panel is part of a deal with independent senator David Pocock to support the Government's industrial relations...
Tougher regulations for ‘buy now pay later’ schemes on the cards
21 November 2022 Plans by the Federal Government to tighten regulations around the 'buy now pay later' industry have been welcomed by one of Australia's leading social services networks. The Treasury discussion paper, to be released today, says the relatively looser regulatory environment, together with the sector's rapid growth, may be contributing to poor consumer outcomes, including...
Ballooning HECS debts hit low-income and the disadvantaged the hardest
17 November 2022 A wide-ranging federal government review of policy, funding and governance issues within tertiary sector must look at HECS debt and other student loan repayment mechanisms, particularly for low paid and disadvantaged former students. The review, announced last night by Education Minister Jason Clare, aims to create a “universities accord” which would set the course...
NSW State Labor commits to protecting tenants as rents skyrocket
7 November 2022 Plans by NSW Labor to allow almost a million renters in NSW to transfer their bonds from one property to the next is a major cost of living initiative welcomed by one of Australia's largest social services networks. The policy plan, announced ahead of the NSW State election in March next year by Labor...
October 2022
Budget meets key election commitments while signalling social service networks won’t be left behind
26 October 2022 Last night’s Federal Budget highlighted the Government’s values by making it clear that low-income and disadvantaged people will not be left behind as the community faces enormous economic and structural budget challenges. Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia, Francis Sullivan, said today that the Budget was more of a scene setter than a road...
