Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) Feed Items

People receiving JobSeeker are around five times more likely to experience multiple deprivation than the general population, according to a new report by the Poverty and Inequality Partnership led by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney.

Material deprivation in Australia: the essentials of life found about one in two people relying on JobSeeker and one in three sole parents are experiencing multiple material deprivation, compared to about one in twelve people nationally. 

Multiple material deprivation is when a person lacks two or more essential items because they can’t afford them. Examples include a decent and secure home, a yearly dental check-up and $500 in savings for emergencies. 

The report found eight groups of people are particularly at high risk of multiple deprivation: people relying on JobSeeker Payment; Parenting Payment, Disability Support Pension or Youth Allowance, sole parent families, First Nations people, and those renting social housing or privately.

For example, more than one in three people relying on JobSeeker are deprived of having at least $500 in savings for an emergency, one in three can’t afford home contents insurance and one in five are deprived of dental treatment when they need it. 

The report found:

Families with a female reference person generally have lower incomes than those with a male reference person. The two charts below show the profile of each income group by the gender of the household reference person. 

2019-20

This chart shows that a clear majority (70%) of households in the highest 20% income group had a male reference person.

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2017-18

This chart shows that the majority (71%) of households in the highest 20% income group had a male reference person.

New research by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney reveals the widening wealth gap between people with the most and least, even as income inequality slows.

The latest report from the Poverty and Inequality Partnership, Inequality in Australia 2024: Who is affected and how? shows the average household wealth of Australia’s highest 10% growing much faster than the lowest 60%, from $2.8 million to $5.2 million (an 84% increase) over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the average wealth of the lowest 60% has risen from $222,000 to $343,000 (a 55% per cent increase).

Nearly half (45%) of the increase in household wealth since 2003 went to the highest 10% (those with at least $2.6 million) and half of this increase to wealthy older people (over 64 years).

Wealth inequality is also growing among households aged under 35, even though they hold just 5% of all wealth. The average wealth of the highest 10% rose from $928,000 to $2 million (an increase of 126%) since 2003. At the same time, the average wealth of the lowest 60% of younger households – largely excluded from home ownership – rose just $68,000 to $80,000 (39%).

The report also shows wage inequality falling between 2021 and 2023, when unemployment dropped below 4%. During that time, wages growth for the lowest 10% (up 4.9%) outpaced the highest 10% (up 3.3%).

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that Unemployment payments should be enough for people to be able to see the doctor when they need.

It shows that 84% of people in Australia agreed that unemployment payments should be enough for people to be able to see the doctor when they need.

Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that People can find themselves needing unemployment payments through no fault of their own

It shows that 78% of people in Australia agreed that people can find themselves needing unemployment payments through no fault of their own.

Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that Australia should be a country that looks after those in need.

It shows that 83% of people in Australia agreed that Australia should be a country that looks after those in need.

Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023 

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the question whether respondents would be able to live on the current rate of unemployment payment

It shows that 58% of people in Australia said they could not live on that amount and 19% were unsure. Only 23% agreed they could live on the current rate. 

Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that Unemployment payments should be enough so that people don’t have to skip meals.

It shows that 86% of people in Australia agreed that unemployment payments should be enough so that people don’t have to skip meals.

Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that People who receive unemployment payments do not deserve to live in poverty.

It shows that 59% of people in Australia agreed that people who receive unemployment payments do not deserve to live in poverty..

Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023 

This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey 2023 to the idea that Poverty is a big problem in Australia today.

It shows that 69% of people in Australia agreed that poverty is a big problem in Australia today.

Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/communityattitudes2023