MEDIA ALERT: Activists to target Chalmers’ office demanding Centrelink increases in budget
Welfare recipients and activists will protest lack of government action on the cost of living crisis at federal treasurer Jim Chalmers’ office in Logan at 2pm today.
When: 2pm Thursday 18 April
Location: Office of Treasurer Jim Chalmers MP, Unit 2A, Logan Central Plaza, 38-74 Wembley Road, Logan Central
Media contact: Jayden Oxton-White, Anti-Poverty Network Qld, 0448 875 043
Included below: quotes, key statistics and media contacts. Case studies are available for interview and photos can be supplied following the event.
The protest is organised by the Anti-Poverty Network Queensland and Community Union Defence League Queensland and will be followed by an action at social services minister Amanda Rishworth’s office in Adelaide on Friday.
APN Qld and CUDL Qld are working with a coalition of grassroots groups from across the country to take action demanding Labor deliver significant Centrelink payment increases in the federal budget.
The coalition includes the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union, Anti-Poverty Network South Australia and the Antipoverty Centre. The groups have been placed under increasing strain as demand for mutual aid, dealing Centrelink backlogs and the need for help with erroneous payment suspensions soars at the same time as payment inadequacy intensifies.
The coalition of groups is calling for the government to increase the base rate of all Centrelink payments to at least the Henderson poverty line and stop payment suspensions for “mutual” obligations activities.
Quotes
Anti-Poverty Network Queensland spokesperson Jayden Oxton-White said: "This isn't even a debate anymore! We have known for years that Jobseeker as well as all other Centrelink payments are far below the poverty line. Back in 2020 we saw how when they raised Jobseeker during the height of the pandemic many people's lives improved. They didn't have to choose between rent or medicine. The fact that they then decreased it and has not been raised by any substantial figure shows that they are intentionally keeping people in poverty.”
Antipoverty Centre spokesperson Kristin O’Connell said: The welfare system is killing people. Deepening poverty, punitive “mutual” obligations, Centrelink processing times and baseless so-called debts are destroying lives at the same time we are squeezed by landlords and cost of living hikes. A budget that leaves people in poverty is not a responsible budget. The fastest and most effective thing the government can do to support the people who need it most is immediately increase Centrelink payments above the poverty line and stop “mutual” obligations. They have money to pay for tax cuts for the rich and weapons of war, there is no excuse for neglecting the poor.
Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union spokesperson Catherine Caine said: Since the last Budget’s chaotic display, we have seen almost nothing of the Minister. Amanda Rishworth has remained hidden, shying away from the poverty crisis and offering no plan to meaningfully help those in poverty. This is an issue that needs a real solution, a significant raise to income support payments has long been accepted as necessary, if not inevitable. So where is the Minister’s plan? Why, so far into this government’s term, do we have no idea what Amanda Rishworth intends to do? In absence of any word from the Minister we have to assume the answer is nothing.
Anti-Poverty Network SA spokesperson Brendan Folwell said: Almost two years ago, the Albanese government was elected on a promise to ‘Leave No One Behind’, but people on JobSeeker have been largely forgotten. Last year’s federal budget saw an insulting and miserable $2.86-a-day rise to JobSeeker. And last month’s pathetic indexation – a 97-cents-a-day increase – will do little for people struggling with skyrocketing rents, and other soaring living costs. JobSeeker, at $54-a-day – $375-a-week – will still be $32-a-day – $224-a-week – below the Henderson poverty-line of $86-a-day. The Albanese government is dreaming, if it thinks its work is done: this year’s Federal Budget needs to finish the job, by lifting JobSeeker, and other payments, out of poverty.
Media contacts: Kristin O’Connell, Antipoverty Centre, 0413 261 362; Jayden Oxton-White, Anti-Poverty Network Qld, 0448 875 043; Brendan Folwell, Anti-Poverty Network SA, 0428 741 601; Catherine Caine, Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union, 0431 869 469.
Key statistics
The JobSeeker payment is currently $381 per week for a single person with no children, which is $216 below the poverty line. The Youth Allowance payment is $320 per week.1
The Henderson poverty line for a single person with no children is currently $597 per week.2
There are currently 876,020 people receiving an unemployment payment, an increase of nearly 50,000 people since September 2023 (which was the lowest figure since COVID lockdowns were lifted). The number of people relying on an unemployment payment increased every month between September 2023 and February 2024 (latest figures).3
2,460,970 payment suspension notices were issued between October 2022 and September 20234
Of 433 people who responded to an Antipoverty Centre’s employment services survey, 87% said a provider caused a problem with their payment that they had to resolve themselves. 266 (60%) had their payment delayed, reduced or cancelled before they were able to get the error fixed.