For the third consecutive year, a parliamentary committee has outlined key measures to combat poverty, and Mission Australia, a Christian not-for-profit provider of community and housing services, is urging the government to adopt the “consistently recommended” reforms.
The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee’s 2025 report, published on March 11, includes 10 recommendations, among them a call for the government to increase JobSeeker benefits from 56 Australian dollars ($35 USD) to 74 AUD ($46 USD) per day.
In a press release, Marion Bennett, executive of Practice, Evidence and Impact for Mission Australia, highlighted the dire consequences of insufficient income support for unemployed Australians.
"Our frontline workers know that $56 a day goes fast and not very far when there is rent, food, bills and healthcare costs to cover,” Bennett said.
“It is heartbreaking to see so many people relying on charities like Mission Australia for the first time in their lives, because inadequate income support is pushing them into poverty, housing instability and even homelessness."
Bennett urged the immediate adoption of the committee’s recommendations.
"People in Australia are compassionate and caring, and the government’s actions should reflect these qualities,” she added.
“We hope third time is a charm for the government to heed the recommendation of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee to permanently and adequately increase the base rate of JobSeeker and Youth Allowance to help protect people and families from poverty and homelessness.
“The cost-of-living crisis is having a devastating effect on people who were already doing it tough. Persistent poverty can be incredibly harmful – for children, the impacts can last a lifetime.”
Research conducted on behalf of the committee found “considerable economic and social benefits” in increasing JobSeeker payments, according to the report.
“The research found that such an increase would create long-run benefits to Australia from a healthier and more productive workforce and decreased spending on government services worth 71.8 million AUD ($45 million USD), estimated for a representative group of 20,000 JobSeeker recipients,” the report stated.
“This is a return to society of $1.24 [78 cents in the U.S.] for every dollar invested. Importantly, the long-run benefits far outweigh any potential costs from reduced work incentives due to an increase in JobSeeker.”
Mission Australia supports the committee’s call for “urgent action to address these pressing issues, urging policymakers to prioritise the well-being of people facing tough times across Australia.”
“By raising income support and implementing other vital measures like increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance – also recommended by the committee – building more social and affordable homes, and greater investment in homelessness prevention, Australia can provide hope and prevent people from being pushed into the heart-wrenching cycle of poverty and homelessness,” Bennett said.
“The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has yet again delivered a well-considered report with robust and sensible recommendations. We hope the government will embrace the important and necessary reforms that have been consistently recommended by numerous bodies.”
