poverty

The lowest paid workers in Australia have been granted a measly 42 cents extra per hour this week.

The so called ‘Fair Work Commission’ only managed to increase the wages of 1.8 million workers by $16 per week. 

The union movement was asking for a minimum rise of $27 a week to stop growing inequality.

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver said unions were extremely disappointed with the decision. 

The minimum wage in Australia is now less than half the average wage.

The job guarantee. This is not full employment that may still mean an unemployment rate of 2-4%. This is a job for everyone. This would not only reduce poverty because the unemployed are well represented in poverty numbers. It would see an end to the bickering and ideological wars over unemployment benefits. Work for the dole and stereotypes about the lazy unemployed. The private sector has never and will never be able to provide employment to everyone. They are unlikely to hire those they are most adverse to. The long-term unemployed, the disabled worker, and the mature-aged worker.

The US Supreme Court denied hearing Argentina's appeal today and a lower court ruling stands that validates predatory behavior targeted towards countries in financial distress. The high court also denied a related appeal on behalf of the more than 92% of bond holders who had accepted Argentina's restructuring deal after the default.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious anti-poverty organization Jubilee USA, releases the following statement:

Why have the major parties totally ignored the issue of poverty?

2.3 million Australians now live below the official poverty line.

"In a wealthy country like Australia, it is not acceptable for more than 2.3 million people, nearly 600,000 of whom are children, live below the poverty line," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for families and community services said today.