Social safety net must be strengthened

Income support payments must be raised by the next Federal Government to improve the living standards for a growing number of people experiencing and at risk of poverty. 

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW’s call on supporting a safety net for all Australians is one of the priority areas featured as part of its 2025 election statement – Justice & Compassion. 

As cost of living and housing pressures continue to place considerable strain on households, the current rate of income support payments is falling short of providing adequate assistance. 

The base rate of JobSeeker for a single person with no children is currently $778 per fortnight. 

The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, established by the Federal Government in 2022 to independently advise the government on economic inclusion and addressing disadvantage, has cited the base rate of JobSeeker and related non-pension payments as “seriously inadequate.” 

“The rate of JobSeeker is too low and must be raised to support the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Yolanda Saiz, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO. 

“Even accounting for supplementary support payments and indexation, the amount of money a recipient is expected to live on is unrealistic without seeking external support. If the base rate of income support payments remains stagnant, I worry that the cost of inaction will be far greater for society with more people facing poverty and homelessness.” 

The Society and the Australian National University have previously released proposals to increase income support payments by amending existing superannuation and capital gains taxes.  

In NSW, the Society supported more than 100,000 people through its members, providing $14.7 million in financial and material assistance in the last financial year. One in three people assisted by the Society’s members last year in NSW relied upon JobSeeker as their primary source of income. 

“All across the state we are seeing people struggling to make ends meet due to years of cost of living hardship,” said Peter Houweling, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW State President. 

“The Society NSW has seen an increase in people seeking assistance at the same time that the rate of income support has failed to keep up with higher costs. The average amount of assistance provided by our members per household has increased by 34% over the past three years. 

“We need a strong social safety net to ensure that no one is left behind, and that is something the next Federal Government is in a position to take action on.” 

Learn more about the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW’s priorities for supporting a safety net for all Australians in the Justice & Compassion election statement at www.vinnies.org.au/Election2025.