SHOCKFACTS: Poverty

Wednesday, November 17, 1993 - 11:00

  • Up to 4.1 million Australians live in poverty.

  • At least 1 million Australians live in poverty despite living in households with one or more employed adults.

  • At least 700,000 children live in households where neither parent is employed.

  • 21% of households in Australia live on less than $400 per week (less than the minimum wage).

  • Unemployment benefits for single adults amount to just 78% of the poverty line.

  • Government payments for single adult students amount to 63% of the poverty line.

[Source: A Hand Up Not a Hand Out: Renewing the fight against poverty, March 2004.]

From Green Left Weekly, July 28, 2004.

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From GLW issue 591