Anglicare Australia releases Living Costs Index: Australians need a plan for living costs
Anglicare Australia has released its Living Costs Index, showing that people on the lowest incomes are falling behind on the cost-of-living.
The Anglicare Australia Living Costs Analysis shows that:
– A full-time minimum wage worker has just $57 left after essential weekly expenses
– A family of four, with two full-time minimum wage workers, has just $73 left after expenses
– A single parent on the minimum wage cannot afford essentials, falling short by $180
– Housing is the biggest living cost facing households, with average rents rising by more than 30% over the last three years.
“These numbers confirm what Australians already know. Living costs are spiralling. Essentials like food and transport are shooting up, and housing is more expensive than ever,” said Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“Rents have gone up by 30 percent since 2020, and they are forecast to keep going up over the next year.
“It is no wonder that record numbers of people are taking up second jobs. People on the lowest incomes, even those working full-time, are being priced out of their own communities.
“Without action, the cost-of-living crisis could force huge numbers of people to turn to agencies like ours for basics – like food, rent, or medicine for themselves and their children.
“Australians doing it tough need real action, and real leadership. That means making the minimum wage a living wage, limiting unfair rent increases, and investing in housing for people in need.
“People on low incomes did not create Australia’s inflation and cost-of-living crisis. They shouldn’t be asked to pay the price for it. We need a plan to stop Australia’s lowest paid workers from being pushed into poverty,” said Kasy Chambers.
Do you need support?
Anglicare Tasmania provides FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL financial counselling to anyone concerned about making ends meet. Call 1800 007 007 and you will be put in contact with one of our trained professionals.
More information:
Download Anglicare Australia’s Living Costs Index here.
Anglicare Tasmania’s Rental Affordability Snapshot
Anglicare Tasmania’s position on the proposed Stage 3 tax cuts
