Dr Cassandra Goldie, the CEO of ACOSS, has called on the federal government to end poverty once and for all by lifting JobSeeker.
Dr Goldie notes that poverty was all but eliminated during the beginning of the pandemic, but was then reinstated when JobSeeker was cut back to just $45 a day:
Between March and December 2020, the average incomes of the lowest 20 per cent rose by 8 per cent ($56 a week). Those in the next 20 per cent saw their incomes rise by 11 per cent ($144 a week). In fact, everyone but the highest 20 per cent saw their average incomes rise.
