The budget reveals what Australia's governments actually care about. And Labor has chosen to keep jobseekers in poverty | Greg Jericho⁩ theguardian.com/business/grogo…

$2.5b energy subsidy in QLD roughly evenly split across all households even though most households not in any serious financial stress and doesn’t encourage using green or less energy. brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queen…

553,000 women on JobSeeker and related payments. Amongst the most disadvantaged in the country. Typical payment set at $763pf (compared to age pension at $1116pf or min wage $1766pf. data.gov.au/data/dataset/d…

The new CEO at Grattan Institute has a message for the Treasurer and his shadow: It’s time for some tough policy choices.

Here’s Aruna Sathanapally’s pre-Budget address to the National Press Club

grattan.edu.au/news/can-we-ta… #auspol #ausecon #women

ABS living cost indexes are more relevant for households than the CPI for short-term ups and down of 'cost of living'. They're also available for different household types (and should and could be expanded to more detailed household types) x.com/Bruce_Bradbury…

I am a very proud Australian

But I hate that our unemployment benefit is so low that it almost guarantees poverty

There is no excuse for that

Relative to the minimum wage, Australia’s unemployment benefit is the second lowest in the OECD – only ahead of Greece

I’ve just…

Economists call for significant rise in the JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments at this year’s budget following the EIAC rec to raise the rate theaustralian.com.au/nation/politic…

Retail sales back to the pre-covid trend (going nowhere). Covid sales were a blip thanks to low interest rates and Gov stimulus. In short, we're buying as much stuff as expected ignoring Covid.

Inner ring Canberra

The best data we have on prevalence of DV is from rhe ABS personal safety survey, which while infrequent shows at worst that DV prevalence is stable and at best that it is reducing over time. You have to be careful inferring prevalence trends from police data because:

Little know fact about JobSeeker is that it’s close to EIAC’s 90% of pension rate for couples (83%). The problem is singles it’s only 68%. Government just needs to be consistent and it’s almost there.

Autumnal Canberra

EIAC analysis shows reduction in low income private renter costs relative to income last 10 years.

Quick summary of which household types in most financial need (EIAC)
Most:
Working age recipients (JobSeeker/parenting payment)
Least: Age pension/childcare only families