A new report by peak social services body, NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS), has revealed nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of NSW residents in low-income households surveyed are in housing stress, owing to cost-of-living pressures.
And meeting essential living costs with their available income has worsened year-on-year.
The report, Impossible Choices: Decisions NSW communities shouldn’t have to make, was undertaken by the University of Technology Sydney, and according to NCOSS, ‘surveyed a representative sample of more than 1,080 residents living on low incomes and below the poverty line in NSW’.
NCOSS CEO, Cara Varian, said the research had demonstrated the extreme impacts being felt by households on low incomes and below the poverty line in Richmond-Tweed.
‘Richmond-Tweed families should not be forced to choose between paying for food or medication,’ Ms Varian said.
‘These are complex issues, but governments have the power to change it,’ she said.
NCOSS CEO, Cara Varian, said, ‘Implementing our recommendations would significantly ease the crushing pressure that is pushing people to breaking point.’
Some of the recommendations are as follows:
Lifting Commonwealth income support for Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payments.
Earlier this year, Labor ignored its own experts who called to lift the Jobseeker rate. However, there was a small increase of around $40 per fortnight to the base rate that was part of the government’s cost-of-living relief package (along with an energy rebate).
Increasing the rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
The Interim Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee (EIAC) found that Commonwealth Rent Assistance is ‘inadequate’. The federal Labor government plans to increase the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by a further 10 per cent starting September 20, 2024.
Providing universal early childcare
SBS reported in November 2023 that, ‘A draft report from the Productivity Commission (PC) has found kids who attend early childhood education and care (ECEC) perform better at school and later in life’.
The PC report also found that workforce shortages and growing demand in the sector prevents universal child care being achieved.
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