The Wire

There’s been a lot of changes in the world over the past 25 years, none greater than the cost of living, but one thing that has stagnated is New Start’s weekly allowance of $39.

Although returning to a budget surplus for the first time in 12 years is largely seen as a positive, the impact this economic milestone will have on low-income earners is extremely minimal.

With many people living in near poverty, struggling to find permanent work, Cassandra Goldie, CEO of The Australian Council of Social Service, is calling for an increase of the allowance to $75 a week.