Trends in poverty among unemployed people
[infogram id="_/KXnJvdEXP8NyP0r9keE0" prefix="SrF" format="interactive" title="Fig.37_ Trends in poverty among unemployed people, by family type and payment"] This graph displays trends in poverty among people without paid work, by family type and payment according to the 50% median income poverty line and as a percentage of all unemployed people, taking into account the cost of housing. It shows that poverty among unemployed people was consistently higher than the population-wide poverty rate from 1999-00 to 2015-16. The poverty rate among unemployed single people was particularly high, at 90% at both the beginning and end of this period, reflecting the level of Newstart and Youth Allowances. Recipients of Newstart Allowance also had elevated poverty rates, albeit lower than those for single unemployed people. The differences between the two groups is family status (Newstart recipients includes those who are partnered) and employment status (approximately 1 in 5 Newstart recipients…
Trends in poverty gaps among older people
[infogram id="_/Uc9iA6ICz7j1WLtLMZC1" prefix="Rq9" format="interactive" title="Fig.36_ Average poverty gaps among older people, compared with those for all people"] This graph shows that the average poverty gaps (the difference between the average incomes of those below the poverty line and the poverty line) among people aged 65+ in income support households were much lower than those across the whole population between 1999-00 and 2015-16. This is explained by the proximity between pension payments and the poverty line. However, the poverty gap for older couples in income support households rose over the period, from 18% of the after-housing poverty line in 2003-04 to a peak of 29% in 2015-16, probably reflecting increases in housing costs.
Trends in poverty among older people
[infogram id="_/KrlBnBaPGml5wTuj0Pju" prefix="UgG" format="interactive" title="Fig.35_ Trends in poverty among older people, by family type and housing status"] This graph compares the before housing poverty rates for single older people after housing costs are taken into account, based on the 50% median income poverty line. It shows that until 2015, single people aged 65+ had significantly higher poverty rates than the wider community, whilst poverty rates for couples aged 65+ have been consistently lower. Poverty rates for older people in income support households (mainly Age Pension recipients) were slightly higher than rates for older single and partnered people generally, and followed similar lines. One of the noticeable features of this graph is the different trend in poverty among older single people and couples between 2005-06 and 2009-10. The poverty rate for older couples was relatively stable, declining from 9.2% in 2005-06 to 8.4% in 2009-10, while poverty rose for single…
Trends in single pension rate and poverty line
[infogram id="_/VEE1BBaH2pYicFIrMrPH" prefix="Q69" format="interactive" title="Fig.34_ Single pension rate compared with average male earnings and poverty line"] This graph compares the single pension rate with average male earnings and the 50% median income poverty line before housing costs are taken into account. The result of the closeness between these means that large numbers of pension recipients can move from one side of the poverty line to the other.
Average poverty gaps among people in income support households
[infogram id="_/IkwHZ86ROPGecCFJvaN6" prefix="VjF" format="interactive" title="Fig.32_Average poverty gaps among people in income support households"] This graph shows trends in poverty gaps for households in which at least one member receives a substantial income support payment, expressed in constant 2015-16 dollars per week, adjusted for household size. It shows that poverty gaps for households relying on Newstart Allowance rose in several increments over the period, from $81 per week in 1999-00 to $136 per week in 2015-16. Poverty gaps for households relying on Age Pension and Disability Support Pension moved in more narrow fashion. The poverty gap for those relying on Age Pension rose from $52 a week in 1999-00 to $77 a week in 2015-16, while for those relying on Disability Support Pension the gap rose from $59 per week in 1999-00 to $73 per week in 2015-16. The poverty gaps for households relying on Parenting Payment fell from $70 a week in 1999-00 to $67 a week in 2004-05, then…
Average poverty gaps among people in income support households by percentage
[infogram id="_/eXUxttoE2BxuusHvz5uR" prefix="YgN" format="interactive" title="Fig.31_ Average poverty gaps among people in income support households"] This graph shows trends in poverty gaps for households in which at least one member receives a substantial income support payment (an income-tested payment for adults such as Newstart Allowance or Age Pension, as distinct from a supplementary payment such as Family Tax Benefit), expressed as a percentage of the 50% median income poverty line. It shows that poverty gaps for households relying on Newstart Allowance rose in several increments over the period, from 33% in 1999-00 to 41% in 2015-16. Poverty gaps for households relying on Age Pension and Disability Support Pension moved in more narrow fashion.
Trends in poverty rates by income support payment
[infogram id="_/woq9aQjxy1IrHiyjIHw8" prefix="4oK" format="interactive" title="Fig.30_Trends in poverty rates among people in income support households, by payment"] This graph compares poverty rates among households in which at least one member receives a substantial income support payment (an income-tested payment for adults such as Newstart Allowance or Age Pension, as distinct from a supplementary payment such as Family Tax Benefit). Poverty rates for those receiving Newstart Allowance and Parenting Payment were consistently above the average, whilst the poverty rate for the Age Pension was consistently below average. The difference in poverty rates between these payments has increased since the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-08. Poverty in income support households reliant on Newstart Alllowance declined from 61% in 1999-00 to 48% in 2003, and then rose in zigzag fashion to 78% in 2015-16. Among income support households reliant on most pension payments (Age Pension, Disability…
Profile of each household income group by income support status
[infogram id="_/DrcvqkoqGc5BVihccwTs" prefix="qHX" format="interactive" title="Fig.23_Profile of each income group by income support status of household head (2016)"] Unlike most other graphs in this website, this one is limited to the 21% of people (including children) living in households where the reference person (usually the highest income-earner) receives an income support payment. Its purpose is to compare the types of income support payments received in low, middle and high household income groups. Among people towards the lower end of the income scale, there is an increasing proportion of households where the reference person receives Newstart Allowance People in households whose reference person receives Newstart Allowance comprise 16% of the lowest 20% income group; 30% of the lowest 10% income group; and 47% of the lowest 5% income group. The reasons for the greater concentration of people in households receiving Newstart Allowance in the lowest income groups are that…
Australia’s population by gender
[infogram id="_/qiwOTRrkdnmIRm5JFE1Q" prefix="Vcm" format="interactive" title="Fig.4_Australia’s population by gender (2016)"] Those identifying as female comprise 51% of the population, while those identifying as male comprise 49% of the population.