Today Tuesday July 14, the Raise the Rate for Good campaign is holding a National Day of Action to create a wall of voices calling for a permanent and adequate increase to JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance and other income support payments.
From ACOSS ” There are many ways you can show your support “
The continuing COVID-19 health and economic crises have led to more people than ever before struggling to find paid work.
The Australian Government has supported people without paid work by lifting JobSeeker and other income support payments, helping them cover the cost of the basics through the immediate crisis.
Now, as we confront what will be a long-term economic downturn, we cannot turn our backs on those who are at risk of being left behind.
We cannot turn back to the brutality of people without paid work struggling to survive on the old Newstart rate of $40 per day.
This is not enough to live, let alone to cover the basics, including housing, food (especially fresh food), transport, bills, medical and health care needs.
That’s why we are calling for a permanent and adequate increase to JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related payments to cover the basics, so everyone can put a roof over their head and food on the table.
We support the National Day of Action on July 14, where hundreds of communities will join together to call on the Australian Government to Raise the Rate For Good.
To get through this crisis, we need to have each other’s back so that everyone has access to the basics to rebuild their lives.
Working together, We Can Support Each Other!
- If you have not already done so, please sign up your organisation to support Raise the Rate for Good, including your logo if possible.
- Write to Treasurer Frydenberg, Minister Ruston and your local MPs to thank them for transforming people’s lives by doubling JobSeeker, and explain why, from your perspective as a service provider/advocacy org, etc., payments need to permanently increase. If you need briefings, or data, just ask Alyssa and she will make it happen!
- Seek a meeting with your local Federal Member of Parliament to do the same.
- Post and share social media content using the hashtag #RaiseTheRateForGood. Please also share other organisations’ social media, including National Council of Single Mothers and their Children’s 550 Reasons to Smile Campaign and Australian Unemployed Workers Union’s campaign to raise the rate.
- Use our Raise the Rate for Good Promotion Kit, with social media assets, ahead of and on the National Day of Action.
The promotion Kit resources include:
- A4 printable sign
- How to interest media in your story
- Social media guide
- Editable media release
- Messaging guide
- Social media assets
Pat Turner, Chief Executive Officer of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Coalition of Peaks Convenor and Co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap, will present to the ACOSS National CEO Network Meeting to present on the significance of the recent report on engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to inform a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the role that ACOSS members can take.
10-11am AEST next Thursday 16 July,
For details or to register your interest in attending, contact dani@acoss.org.au.