Record 1.4 million people relying on food charity
Jul 3, 2020 16:47:53 GMT 7
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Post by bear on Jul 3, 2020 16:47:53 GMT 7
Record 1.4 million people relying on food charity as recession bites
A record 1.4 million desperate Australians are relying on food banks to put dinner on the table amid fears the end of JobKeeper in September will see charities overwhelmed by migrants, students and the unemployed.
Those struggling crashed the Australian Taxation Office website trying to access up to $10,000 from their superannuation savings on Wednesday, as the charity sector revealed people who have never needed a handout in their lives are now reliant on food and financial support.
Charities are reporting record number of Australians are needing help to get through the coronavirus recession, including 1.4 million who have received food relief.
While more than 1.7 million people are on JobSeeker and another 3.3 million on the $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper wage subsidy, charities have noted a surge in the number of people who have missed out on federal assistance.
Foodbank chief executive Brianna Casey on Wednesday told the Senate's coronavirus committee there had been a 78 per cent jump in people needing food relief since the advent of the pandemic.
There were now 1.4 million people getting support, up from 815,000 before the pandemic, with no signs of a slowdown as international students, seniors, single parents and temporary visa holders turn to the charity for help.
Ms Casey said it appeared peak demand, especially in areas still recovering from natural disasters such as this year's bushfires and floods, had not been reached with growing concerns about September when support measures are due to end.
"We are nervous about the proposed timing of the removal of JobKeeper, JobSeeker and the coronavirus supplement," she said.
"We are doing our best to keep up with demand but the sheer number of new recipients is making this difficult.
"If we reach do this point that we all term 'the cliff', where these additional measures come off, I'm deeply concerned about what will happen to demand for food relief and our ability to keep up with that."
JobKeeper and JobSeeker are due to end in late September. The government is considering a Treasury review of the schemes, with the results due to be released with a budget update on July 23. JobKeeper is likely to be modified with a focus on regions hit hard by the coronavirus recession.
The Red Cross revealed that this time last year it was looking after about 620 temporary visa holders. It is now supporting more than 14,000, with many losing their jobs, unable to qualify for financial or medical assistance.
St Vincent de Paul chief executive officer Toby O'Connor said his organisation's client base had changed during the recession.
www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/record-1-4-million-people-relying-on-food-charity-as-recession-bites-20200701-p55821.html
A record 1.4 million desperate Australians are relying on food banks to put dinner on the table amid fears the end of JobKeeper in September will see charities overwhelmed by migrants, students and the unemployed.
Those struggling crashed the Australian Taxation Office website trying to access up to $10,000 from their superannuation savings on Wednesday, as the charity sector revealed people who have never needed a handout in their lives are now reliant on food and financial support.
Charities are reporting record number of Australians are needing help to get through the coronavirus recession, including 1.4 million who have received food relief.
While more than 1.7 million people are on JobSeeker and another 3.3 million on the $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper wage subsidy, charities have noted a surge in the number of people who have missed out on federal assistance.
Foodbank chief executive Brianna Casey on Wednesday told the Senate's coronavirus committee there had been a 78 per cent jump in people needing food relief since the advent of the pandemic.
There were now 1.4 million people getting support, up from 815,000 before the pandemic, with no signs of a slowdown as international students, seniors, single parents and temporary visa holders turn to the charity for help.
Ms Casey said it appeared peak demand, especially in areas still recovering from natural disasters such as this year's bushfires and floods, had not been reached with growing concerns about September when support measures are due to end.
"We are nervous about the proposed timing of the removal of JobKeeper, JobSeeker and the coronavirus supplement," she said.
"We are doing our best to keep up with demand but the sheer number of new recipients is making this difficult.
"If we reach do this point that we all term 'the cliff', where these additional measures come off, I'm deeply concerned about what will happen to demand for food relief and our ability to keep up with that."
JobKeeper and JobSeeker are due to end in late September. The government is considering a Treasury review of the schemes, with the results due to be released with a budget update on July 23. JobKeeper is likely to be modified with a focus on regions hit hard by the coronavirus recession.
The Red Cross revealed that this time last year it was looking after about 620 temporary visa holders. It is now supporting more than 14,000, with many losing their jobs, unable to qualify for financial or medical assistance.
St Vincent de Paul chief executive officer Toby O'Connor said his organisation's client base had changed during the recession.
www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/record-1-4-million-people-relying-on-food-charity-as-recession-bites-20200701-p55821.html
