It certainly feels like the weight of lockdown in many states and territories is starting to lift. With that comes a feeling of welcome relief in many respects of life but ongoing uncertainty in others. News emerging out of Canberra that there will be a sharp scaling back of the Commonwealth’s Disaster Payments feels a bit like people are being caught in the crossfire between the Commonwealth and State/Territory governments. The Commonwealth holds the purse strings keeping individuals and families afloat who have been significantly impacted by job losses/reduced capacity to work due to COVID lockdowns while the States/Territories control the pathway out of lockdown. Given the industries that have been most impacted – hospitality, retail, tourism, travel – will likely still need to comply with social distancing measures, it is highly probable that the rate of underemployment will remain high. This will inevitably impact on individual and household income levels. Therefore, linking withdrawal of this payment to vaccination targets alone (notwithstanding exemptions for LGAs in lockdown) does feel harsh.
There are numerous reports now emerging providing clearer insight into the health and wellbeing of women, men and children in society due to COVID-19. We have featured a number of these in this eBulletin edition. What these reports are all telling us, overwhelmingly, is that people are doing it tough across a range of social and economic domains. Whilst appreciating the pressure on Government to scale back expenditure, I am concerned that the sharp withdrawal of payments will add more pressure to individuals and families who are already under significant strain.
As we head into the month of October I want to highlight Anti-Poverty week, which will be held from the 17th. This week provides an opportunity to remind ourselves and our society about the significant benefits the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement payments made to people in receipt of JobSeeker when they were receiving it from April 2020 to March 2021. Since that time, the majority of people relying on income support have not been eligible for disaster relief payments, and the impacts have been devastating. We know that income inadequacy and inequity underpins so many social issues in society. Reading in our ebull today about the University of Southern Queensland’s research correlating low-income households with the mental health of Australian adolescents is heartbreaking. The Anti-Poverty week website is a wealth of information – some of it quite heartening if the political will to create a fairer society could be ignited. Recent modelling by the ANU, for example, shows a 20% increase in working age payments like JobSeeker would reduce their poverty rates by as much as 75%. Surely that is an aspiration that should not be out of reach?
Thank you again for your tireless work supporting children, women, men and communities during this really challenging time. While it is difficult to ask for a slice of your expertise, experience and time when everyone is snowed under, I do want to remind FRSA members that Board nominations are now open (more on this below).
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at FRSA if we can be of help in anyway.
By Jackie Brady
