100 signatures reached
To: Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher
#RAISETHERATE of New Start
The Newstart allowance has seen no real term increase in the last 24yrs. Currently young people are facing more and more financial stress while they manage studying. We are asking the government to increase the rate of Newstart by $100 dollars per week.
The Anglicare Rental Affordability Snapshot, there were only 3 rental properties in the country that were affordable for students under Newstart. Under Youth Allowance there are only 2 affordable rental properties.
Why is this important?
The National Union of Students is calling on the Federal Government to increase commonwealth income support programs such as Newstart. It’s been 24 years since any government has increased the payments for newstart.
Anglicare Rental Affordability Snapshot, there were only 3 rental properties in the country that were affordable for students under Newstart. Under Youth Allowance there are only 2 affordable rental properties.
The NUS and Anglicare Student Housing Survey in 2017 reported that:
- 82% of working students said that the amount of time they spend at work hurts their studies.
- 85% of students do not believe that Centrelink provides them with enough to live and study
Former Prime Minister John Howard has even admitted the freeze on NewStart has gone on too long.
We are joining with organisations such as the Everybody's home campaign and ACOSS to raise the rate of Newstart and fix youth homelessness and poverty.