The findings of the inaugural report of the interim Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee could not be clearer.
The current level of income supports for more than one million Australians is seriously inadequate.
The Committee recommended a substantial increase in the rate of JobSeeker as a first priority and an increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
It is unacceptable that as one of the wealthiest countries in the world so many people in our community, especially children, are being forced to live in poverty in this worsening cost-of-living crisis.
It appears that this Labor government can find extra money for just about anything - from inland rail cost blowouts to submarines - but it won’t do more to protect the most vulnerable.
I urge the Albanese Government to think again and prioritise those in our communities in most need of support.
I thank the Committee for their outstanding work which I look forward to looking at in more detail.
Report available here