Submissions to the Senate extended until 30 September.

On 25 July 2019, the Senate referred an inquiry into the adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support payments in Australia to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 27 March 2020.

It's not too late! Submissions to the Senate Inquiry into Newstart have been extended until 30 September. 

To find out how to submit visit https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Newstartrelatedpayments 

Research released in September* shows households surviving on government allowances such as Newstart or Youth Allowance are twice as likely to be living in poverty than 25 years ago. In 2017, 8 in 10 households with government allowances as their main income (not including payments like the aged or disability pensions) were living in poverty after their housing was paid for, compared with less than 4 in 10 in 1993.

The CPI increase of $1.65 a week takes effect for Allowances 20 September.

*Read the Canberra times article Poverty rates in Newstart households rising, Centre for Social Research and Methods report finds

Visit the Raise the Rate website for more information on why the government allowances should be increased.