Renters suffer on payment

Jobseeker cash rise called for

TOWNSVILLE residents who rely on Jobseeker to survive are feeling the pinch with the average cost of renting on the rise.

St Vincent de Paul is calling on the federal government to increase JobSeeker $25 a day to make up the shortfall for renters.

The average cost of a unit in Townsville is $310 a week, with Jobseeker offering a single parent just $365.

The pressure on the rental market is not isolated to Townsville with Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast all experiencing skyrocketing prices.

Vinnies Queensland CEO Kevin Mercer said it was critical the JobSeeker rate was increased.

“Queensland’s job hunters have always been expected to survive on below poverty incomes,” Mr Mercer said.

“But with rental costs booming in the last year, rental vacancy rates dropping to under 1 per cent across the state and entire industries still not recovering from the impacts of COVID-19, how are those in Townsville and across the state supposed to continue to survive on the current Jobseeker rate?”

This push comes as part of Anti-poverty Week, which runs until October 23.

Mr Mercer said the value of increasing the rate was self-evident, with JobSeeker helping the country stay afloat through the coronavirus pandemic.

“Once the supplements ended in April this year and rates returned to below-poverty levels, we have heard from more and more Queenslanders in areas such as Townsville coming to us who are struggling to afford rent in the current housing climate,” he said.

Vinnies Townsville Program Coordinator Loma Tonnochy said there were very few rentals available and social housing drying up, many families had tipped over the line.

“Now that the Jobseeker payment has been cut down, we’re getting a lot more calls for assistance,” she said.

“Speaking for the general population, people who have a bad credit rating or no credit rating, who have got a number of children, … that haven’t got access to a computer or you’re not literate, it is difficult to apply for a house.”

Ms Tonnochy said an extra $25 a day would make a big difference, making it easier to access food, electricity, medications, and items for school.

“Some of these families are asking for help with electricity bills, phone bills, with food bills, it’s getting quite frightening,” she said.

“Going to school without shoes is one thing, but when you live without food, that seems to bring it to a whole different level.”

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said the way to increase support for people on welfare was to increase social housing.

He said the federal government would give the Queensland government $1.6bn from 2019-2023 for social housing.

Mr Thompson said people from the south were buying and renting sight unseen which was putting additional pressure on the market.

“In April this year the federal government delivered the single largest increase to the rate of payments for unemployed Australians in more than 30 years,” he said.

“Jobseeker Payment is not meant to be a salary or wage replacement. It is designed to be a safety net to help people find their feet.

“On top of cash payments, our social security safety net also comprises services, concessions, child care, housing and employment services and associated programs. The most common supplements are Energy Supplement, Commonwealth Rent Assistance and Family Tax Benefit.”