The Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville, Sydney, has renamed one of its streets to Raise The Rate Drive to help raise awareness about the campaign to raise the rate of payments for welfare recipients.
Members of community groups and jobseekers held a rally at the unveiling of the new street sign on October 22 as part of national Anti-Poverty Week.
Supported by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), the Raise the Rate campaign is calling for Newstart, Youth Allowance and other related payments to be raised by at least $75 a week.
Welfare recipients currently live well below the poverty line and the rate of Newstart has not been raised in real terms in 25 years.
An Essential Research poll earlier this year found more than 70% of the community agrees Newstart should be raised.
Speakers on the day included ACOSS’ Pas Forgione and Ricci Bartels, a welfare recipient who challenged conservative politicians on this issue on ABC’s Q&A program.