Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697638008731.pdf (Australia)
SUBMISSION FORM – SENATE INQUIRY ON THE ADEQUACY OF NEWSTART, YOUTH ALLOWANCE AND RELATED PAYMENTS When completed, you can send your submission to the Senate inquiry through the following options: 1) Online: 2) E-mail: 3) Mail: aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/OnlineSubmission community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au Committee Secretary, Community Affairs Committee Department of the Senate, PO Box 6100, Parliament House Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia Please indicate if you would like your submission to be made: (please circle which one applies): - Confidential (not made public at all) - Made public without your name or identifying details - Made public with your name attached Please only fill in what you like or what you feel comfortable filling in, noting that it is a good idea to include contact email or number so the committee can contact you about your submission.
NAME: AGE: POSTCODE: E-MAIL ADDRESS: PHONE NUMBER: INTERESTED IN SPEAKING TO THE SENATE INQUIRY (YES OR NO)?

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How long have you been (or how long were you) on Newstart or another Allowance (i.e., Youth Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy, Special Benefit)?

What was your previous situation?

• We represent 70 Not for profits working with communities and social groups that are struggling with, housing, food and paying for utilities.

The majority struggle with English language and access to technology.
95% of the communities we work with are on some form of benefit 100% suffer hardships and can not make ends meet and something suffers.

• • • • Adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support paymentsin AustraliaSubmission 105 2.

How much do you receive per week?

How much do you have left after you pay your housing costs?

Do you receive Rent Assistance?


• • • • After rent, transport, utilities, phone and food there is: 70% said Nothing left 20% said $10 left 10% said $12-15 left • • • • 3.

How do you manage to cover the cost of essentials like utilities?

Turn off the electricity Go to bed early and wear warm clothes donated by a charity Have a hot shower every 3 days Find a community Centre that offers showers and laundry services • • • 4.

How do you manage to afford food?

Do you skip meals?

If so, how often?


Do you go without some kinds of food because of their cost?

Some members of the community shop at Food Pantries, including Addison Road Community Centre Food Pantry.

Most people skip 1 to 2 meals a day Some fill up on bread 5.

How do you manage health costs?

Have you ever avoided getting healthcare (eg., seeing a dentist) because of the cost?
If so, explain: Adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support paymentsin AustraliaSubmission 105 • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6.

How do you manage to cover transport costs?

Do you ever have to stay home because you cannot afford a bus or train fare?

Do you find it hard to maintain a car?

Mostly stay at home Ask neighbours for help Payment day put 10 to 20 dollars on the card.

7.
7.

What are some things that you go without or have to do differently?

For example, do you avoid using heating or cooling?

Do you buy second-hand clothes?

Do you find it difficult to buy gifts for loved ones for birthdays/other special occasions?

Its humiliating to not be able to buy your child an icecream or a pair of shoes or books.

If we are able, we can go to get them from food pantries, charities, churches, community Centres and Council rubbish collection days.
Charities that provide meals is a good place to fill up your stomach and use the extra money t feed kids.

If the charities have surplus food from the meals we can bring a container and bring food home for the evening meal.

Friends, families and neighbours give us clothes.

Also people leave bags of clothing outside charities and we get them.

Never spend money on second-hand clothes; they are expensive 8.

What effect does living on a low income have on your mental health?
Do you ever isolated or lonely because of a lack of funds?

Low self-esteem Suicidal Failure Dark thoughts Isolation from family and friends Adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support paymentsin AustraliaSubmission 105 • Remain in an abusive relationship because there is no where to go • • 9.

Have you ever visited a charity to ask for assistance?

What led to this happening?

Was this a one-off, or do you do so regularly?


Regularly get support from charities Community centres are helpful and can provide support referrals and practical resources; this includes food, clothes, Opal cards and counselling 10.

Does the current rate of Newstart make it harder to look for paid work?

OR, if you are studying, does the current rate make it difficult for you to study or train?

If yes, please explain why.


• • • • • • • • Staff from the employment agencies are punitive, nasty, unmoving and disrespectful.

They are the stick that breaks the camels back and leads to suicide, homeless ness or despair Being a student means you have to work, study and feed yourself and share accommodation and there is nothing left.

We do this to get a better job and a future but some of us do not make it because its too much of a struggle.
Looking for jobs when you have NO MONEY to get to the job, to get to the provider and to get to the charities to eat and get help is impossible.

There are no jobs for all of us Some of us are unskilled, old and have mental health issues and there are no jobs 11.

What have been your experiences looking for paid work?
Employers look for youth Employers do not like to employ people that are on unemployment benefits Adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support paymentsin AustraliaSubmission 105 • • • • • 12.

What would a raise to Newstart and other allowances mean for you?

How would it affect your life?

How much of an increase would you like to see?

Provide food Heating Dignity Confidence A fair go 13.

Anything else you would like to add?


This system is humiliating and degrading and Australia is better than that.

Adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support paymentsin AustraliaSubmission 105