Poverty in Australia
The life expectancy of indigenous Australians is 20 years less than for other Australians. It is similar to Bangladesh, yet Australia is ten times richer.
About a quarter of a million Australian jobseekers have not had substantial work for a year or more. Many have had little or no work for two years.
More than 10% of the workforce are unemployed or want more work. The number of jobseekers greatly exceeds the number of job vacancies.
What is poverty?
!Poverty is where people have unreasonably low living standards compared with others; cannot afford to buy necessities, such as a refrigerator for example; and experience real deprivation and hardship in everyday life.” (McClelland 2000)
Internationally, people who lack food and shelter for minimal needs are said to be living in absolute poverty. Poverty in Australia, however, is generally relative poverty. People are considered to be poor if their living standards fall below an overall community standard, and they are unable to participate fully in ordinary activities of society.
Who is most likely to be poor?
There are high rates of poverty among unemployed people, sole parent families, people with disabilities, indigenous Australians and some groups of immigrants and refugees. Over half a million families have no members in paid work.
Each night, about 700 homeless families cannot find places in refuges
Popularity: 1% [?]
Filed Under: Poverty
