#Pocock says government ‘ignoring the needs’ of #vulnerable #Australians as independent report calls for #jobseeker to be lifted.

The Australian government’s independent economic inclusion advisory committee has released its annual report before the budget, calling for an #increase to jobseeker to 90% of the #agedpension over four years, and an increase to commonwealth #rentassistance.

The committee, which was established by Labor in 2022 as part of a deal with independent senator #DavidPocock, made the same recommendation to increase jobseeker and other income supports in 2025, 2024 and 2023. The government is unlikely to increase jobseeker in the coming budget.

Its fourth report states there are now 3.6 million Australians, including 1 million children and young people, who are now living in #poverty.

It recommends actions to decrease the number of children living in poverty through #familypayments and #childsupport systems and calls for an immediately end to all #Centrelink payment penalties, including suspensions and cancellations related to compulsory activities.

Pocock says that months into the crisis in the #MiddleEast, the government still hasn’t taken any “meaningful action” to support the most vulnerable Australians.

“We’ve seen the #primeminister jump to the defence of #multinational #gascompanies while ignoring the needs of the most vulnerable Australians … Australia should be proud of the safety net we provide to those who have fallen on hard times and help them to build a better life rather than condemning them to economic and social exclusion.” #auspol #AlbaneseIsUseless