New report tracks economic outcomes for migrants in Australia
New report tracks economic outcomes for migrants in Australia New research by the ACOSS and UNSW-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership finds that migrants in Australia have comparatively strong employment outcomes and low rates of poverty, but that outcomes vary considerably for people depending on their pathway as a migrant, refugee or person seeking asylum. The report, The first 10 years: Employment, income and poverty among migrants and refugees in Australia, highlights concerningly high rates of poverty among people holding humanitarian, family and student visas, and points to the need for greater employment and financial support to support the wellbeing of new migrants. Unsurprisingly, skilled migrants have the highest employment rates and lowest rates of poverty among the different visa categories. People who are family migrants are more likely to be disadvantaged in the labour market. Women on family visas face particular barriers to employment participation with a…
Most think income support is too low to live on
Concerns about poverty in Australia are rising as cost-of-living pressures hit hard, with a majority of people agreeing income support payments are not enough to live on, according to new research by the ACOSS and UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership. The vast majority of people surveyed support an increase to JobSeeker, with almost nine in ten (87%) people agreeing that unemployment payments should be enough so people don’t have to skip meals. It comes after the Federal Government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee announced its first recommendation is to increase working-age income support payments in the forthcoming Federal Budget. The new research, which surveyed 2,520 people, found: Three in four (74%) people reject the idea that people on JobSeeker deserve to live in poverty, up from 59% in 2023 Three in four (74%) people agree that poverty is a big problem in Australia, up from 69% in 2023 Less than a quarter (23%) said they could…
Poverty increases to 1 in 7 people
The number of people living in poverty in Australia has increased to 1 in 7, according to a new ACOSS and UNSW Report released at the start of Anti-Poverty Week. As many as 14.2% of the population - or 3.7 million people - were living below the poverty line in 2022-23, according to the Poverty In Australia 2025: Overview report by the ACOSS and UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, using the latest available data from the HILDA survey. That marked an increase from 12.4% of the population - or 1 in 8 people - in 2020-21. The study found the poverty rate for children is 1 in 6, equalling 757,000 children. “This research shows that 1 in 7 people are now living in poverty. This is unacceptable in one of the wealthiest countries in the world,” said Dr Yuvisthi Naidoo, Senior Research Fellow at UNSW’s Social Policy Research Centre. “The number of people living in poverty decreased in 2020 due to the temporary effective doubling of JobSeeker through the Covid supplement - but…
Seven in ten renters worried about asking for repairs
Almost seven in ten people who rent privately worry about asking for repairs in case they face a rent increase, according to research by the ACOSS/UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations (NARO). The study, which surveyed 1,019 people who rent in the private sector across Australia, also found a third of renters would be unable to afford their rent if it went up by 5%. The report, titled Rights at risk: Rising rents and repercussions, found half of renters (50%) live in homes that need repairs and one in 10 need urgent repairs (10%). The survey found almost one in three (31%) rental homes have pests such as cockroaches and ants, almost one in four (24%) have leaks or flooding, and one in five (21%) have issues with hot water, while almost one in five bathrooms (18%) have mould. The report notes that rents have surged by a staggering 47 per cent in the past five years and calls for nationwide rental…
People receiving JobSeeker five times more likely to experience multiple deprivation: New report
People receiving JobSeeker are around five times more likely to experience multiple deprivation than the general population, according to a new report by the Poverty and Inequality Partnership led by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney. Material deprivation in Australia: the essentials of life found about one in two people relying on JobSeeker and one in three sole parents are experiencing multiple material deprivation, compared to about one in twelve people nationally. Multiple material deprivation is when a person lacks two or more essential items because they can’t afford them. Examples include a decent and secure home, a yearly dental check-up and $500 in savings for emergencies. The report found eight groups of people are particularly at high risk of multiple deprivation: people relying on JobSeeker Payment; Parenting Payment, Disability Support Pension or Youth Allowance, sole parent families, First Nations people, and those renting social housing or privately. For example, more than one in…
New data shows wealth gap widening
New research by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney reveals the widening wealth gap between people with the most and least, even as income inequality slows. The latest report from the Poverty and Inequality Partnership, Inequality in Australia 2024: Who is affected and how? shows the average household wealth of Australia’s highest 10% growing much faster than the lowest 60%, from $2.8 million to $5.2 million (an 84% increase) over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the average wealth of the lowest 60% has risen from $222,000 to $343,000 (a 55% per cent increase). Nearly half (45%) of the increase in household wealth since 2003 went to the highest 10% (those with at least $2.6 million) and half of this increase to wealthy older people (over 64 years). Wealth inequality is also growing among households aged under 35, even though they hold just 5% of all wealth. The average wealth of the highest 10% rose from $928,000 to $2 million (an increase of 126%) since 2003. At the same time, the average wealth of…
Most people support lifting incomes for those with the least
Three-quarters of people in Australia support an income boost for people with the least while less than a quarter think it’s possible to live on the current JobSeeker rate, new research by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney shows. The latest report from the Poverty and Inequality partnership, Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality 2023: Snapshot report, also shows 74% think the gap between wealthy people and those living in poverty is too large and should be reduced. The survey of 2,000 adults in Australia shows most people (62%) think government policies have contributed to poverty, while 75% think it can be solved with the right systems and policies. More than two-thirds (69%) think poverty is a big problem in Australia Just 23% agreed they could live on the current JobSeeker rate Another 58% said they would not be able to live on that amount, while 19% were unsure Three-quarters (76%) agree the incomes of people earning the least are too low and should be increased Most people…
Sharp jump in wealth inequality over last 20 years
The gap between those with the most and those with the least has blown out over the past two decades, with the average wealth of the highest 20% growing at four times the rate of the lowest, new research by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney shows. The latest report from the Poverty and Inequality Partnership Inequality in Australia 2023: Overview, shows that wealth inequality has increased strongly over the past two decades. From 2003 to 2022, the average wealth of the highest 20% rose by 82% and that of the highest 5% rose by 86%, leaving behind the middle 20% (with a 61% increase) and the lowest 20% (with a 20% increase). The overall increase in wealth inequality over the period was mainly driven by superannuation, which grew by 155% in value due to compulsory savings property investment. Contrary to the public image of ‘mum and dad’ property investors, investment housing is very unequally shared: the wealthiest 20% hold 82% of all investment property by value. The report also shows that the…
New report highlights depth of poverty for people on income support
People who are unemployed, people receiving income support, renters, sole parents, women, children and people with disability are at highest risk of poverty, while those on Youth Allowance experience deepest poverty, according to Poverty in Australia 2023: Who is affected, released today by the Poverty and Inequality Partnership led by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney. The depth of poverty experienced by people on income support payments is severe. Households relying on Youth Allowance are in the deepest poverty, with incomes on average $390 per week below the poverty line. People in households relying on JobSeeker were $269 per week below the poverty line, and people in households relying on parenting payment were $246 per week below the poverty line. By payment type, 60% of people receiving JobSeeker Payment and 72% of people receiving Parenting Payment live in poverty, compared with one in eight (13%) people and one in six children (17%) in poverty overall, based on the latest available data…
New research shows ‘pernicious effects’ of removal of Coronavirus Supplement
A new report from the Poverty and Inequality Partnership led by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney has found that while the Coronavirus Supplement introduced in 2020 gave recipients the breathing space to afford basics such as food and medication, its removal had a pernicious effect that hit hard. Australian experiences of poverty: risk precarity & uncertainty during COVID-19 found the extra $275 a week from April 2020 was critically important to improving wellbeing during the pandemic. The qualitative research study, based on phone interviews with 33 income support recipients, revealed the payment provided a reprieve from ongoing financial stresses and allowed recipients to plan for their future for the first time. But when the supplement was first reduced from September 2020 and then abolished in April 2021, participants were forced to return to acute financial stress and experienced increased feelings of exclusion. Report authors Professor kylie valentine, Dr Yuvisthi Naidoo and Dr…