ACOSS - $35 a day is not enough !

Lift paltry allowances and help people into paid work

Could you live on $35 a day? That’s how much people unfortunate enough to find themselves out of work have to depend on - to put a roof over their heads, feed and clothe themselves, and get around as they try and find paid work – just $243 per week. Join our Campaign to raise unemployment allowances such as Newstart and improve jobs assistance.

Far from the stereotype of a 'lazy dole bludger', most of the 600,000 people on Newstart Allowance are actually among the most disadvantaged people in Australia.

• 1 in 3 are over 45 years of age
• 1 in 6 have been assessed as only able to work part time due to a disability, including mental illness
• 1 in 10 are from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds
• 1 in 15 is a sole parent, needing affordable child care services and a job with family friendly hours
• 2 out of every 5 recipients has less than Year 12 qualifications
• 60% have received unemployment payments for over a year, and 25% for over 3 years

It’s time to raise Allowance payments by $50 per week as recommended by the Henry Report and the OECD, and improve the level of targeted jobs assistance to help break down these barriers. Increasing allowance payments will help lift a great many people out of poverty and place them in a better position to participate in paid work.

ACOSS has prepared a statement (below) calling for an increase in unemployment benefits and improvements to jobs assistance. We’re calling on groups and individuals to add their names in support.

SIGN HERE

“Many Australian workers face the prospect of relying on an inadequate Newstart Allowance if they lose their job. Australian unions support the call to increase Newstart Payment ...”
Ged Kearney, ACTU President

“People cannot live on $35 a day… Entrenching them into poverty is not a pathway back into employment.”
Jennifer Westacott, Chief Executive, Business Council of Australia

“Unemployment can happen to anyone. You shouldn’t have to live in poverty if it does.”
Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service