Report finds one in 10 Australians living in poverty

Despite Australia having experienced its most sustained economic boom ever in recent years, the number of Australians living in poverty has mushroomed to nearly two million over the past decade.

According to a report by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), at least one in 10 Australians is living at or below the poverty line with the nation being ranked 14 out of 18 OECD countries on the UN Human Poverty Index.

The proportion of people in poverty has grown from 7.6% in 1994 to 9.9% in 2004, an increase of around 600,000 people, although the population also increased during that period. The report’s analysis concentrated on the issues regarded as essential to ensure a ‘fair go for all’ such as affordable housing, education, and health.

Many key indicators also revealed that Australia was well above the OECD average on life expectancy, home ownership, and economic growth, but ACOSS said it was important now for the Federal Government to take action in the areas that were failing the ‘fair go for all’ test.

Australia is in the bottom third of rich nations for dental health for adults, spends less than the OECD average on education, and only Ireland spent less on early childhood education, the report found.