With Anti-Poverty Week fresh in the rear-view mirror, advocates are hopeful that tonight’s budget will come to the rescue of the country’s horrifying poverty rates, where one in eight people in Australia live in poverty. 

ABS statistics indicated that 3.3 million people in Australia were living below the poverty life in the first year of the pandemic and the gap is only growing, as their weekly income drops to $304 below the poverty line.

The issue is close to home, with all of the Western Plains falling into the three lowest categories on the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), leaving the community vulnerable to the effects of poverty. 

In particular, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Coonamble fall into the lowest SEIFA category. 

In the first three months of 2020, as large parts of the economy were shut down by Covid-19 restrictions and thousands were put out of work, the poverty rate soared to 14.6 per cent. 

But boosted income support payments announced in April that year saw the poverty rate drop to a 17-year-low of 12 per cent over the next three months. 

This was a result of the Coronavirus Supplement and Economic Support Payment, which doubled the lowest income support payments. 

The result - according to a 2022 report from Poverty in Australia - was 646,000 people pulled above the poverty line. 

The results have led to advocates pressuring the government to return some of those supports that were in place during the pandemic. 

Solutions suggested

Australian Council Of Social Service (ACOSS) CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said that the figures show that there is a clear way to reduce poverty in Australia. 

“The increased payments reduced child poverty by a massive 5.3 per cent, giving 245,000 kids in Australia the chance of a better future,” Dr Goldie said. 

“The report shows that the solutions to ending poverty in Australia are clear. Increasing Jobseeker and related payments to at least $73 a day is a crucial first step, as well as an increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance and a substantial investment in social housing so that there are enough affordable homes for people on the lowest incomes. We must also invest in energy efficiency and solar retrofits for low-income homes,” she said. 

Despite several budget announcements, there is so far no indication of whether any support payments will be changed or extended. 

Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced, however, that the upcoming budge will be dedicated to well-being and will outline how the government plans on measuring well-being as it moves forward. 

“As it develops its approach to a well-being budget, the Federal Government should prioritise including specific targets and strategies for reducing poverty to ensure that no one is left behind,” Dr Goldie said.

“ACOSS agrees with the Treasurer that we need to have a conversation about how we can grow the revenue Australia needs to pay for the essential services and safety net we need, to end poverty and deliver wellbeing and we are keen to work with the government on this,” she said. 

The Federal Budget will be delivered tonight at 7:30.