Vinnies welcomes Greens’ balance of power asks

The St Vincent de Paul Society of Australia has welcomed the Greens’ pledge to include increasing income support payments, housing reforms and progressing all elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in their shortlist for negotiations if they hold the balance of power following this weekend’s federal election.

National President Claire Victory said these were critical issues that would define the lived experience of millions of Australians, and our identity as a nation, over the coming years.

‘More than three million people, including one-in-six children, live in poverty in Australia and are finding it increasingly tough to make ends meet and find secure, affordable housing as the cost of living skyrockets around them,’ Ms Victory said.

In its 2022 election statement, A Fairer Australia, the St Vincent de Paul Society has called on parties and candidates at this week’s federal election to increase the base rate of working age payments to lift recipients out of poverty; index income support payments biannually in line with wages growth and CPI; and lift the earnings threshold for income support payments.

‘The decision by both major parties not to lift JobSeeker is cruel and traps millions of Australians below the poverty line as the cost of living skyrockets,’ Ms Victory said.

‘Indigenous Australians are particularly vulnerable due to past and continuing injustices, and more needs to be done to ensure they do not fall further behind,’ Ms Victory said.

As set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, improved outcomes will only be achieved when First Nations people are able to “live in dignity, to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their self- determined development, in keeping with their own needs and aspirations”.

‘The St Vincent de Paul Society of Australia has called on all parties and candidates to commit to the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart by supporting Constitutional Recognition of First Nations people and implementing a Voice to Parliament,’ Ms Victory said.

‘We have also called for the age of criminal responsibility to be lifted from 10 to at least 14 years of age, and for increased funding and support for Aboriginal-controlled organisations to meet the targets contained in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap,’ Ms Victory said.

Safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right, vital to human dignity.

‘The Australian dream has become a nightmare, with a whole generation unable to afford a home and a growing number of Australians at risk of becoming homeless as wages and income supports fail to keep up with surging costs of living,’ Ms Victory said.

‘We urge all parties and candidates to make protecting Australia’s most vulnerable people a key demand should they be at the negotiating table after the election,’ Ms Victory said.