13 August 2004
PLIGHT OF THE POOR CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
The rate of cost increase of essential items is making life increasingly difficult for Australia’s poor according to the St Vincent de Paul Society.
In the past year the cost of education has increased by three times the inflation rate, housing costs by more twice the rate of inflation and the cost of hospital and medical services has increased by more than three times the rate of inflation. This continues a trend that has been in evidence since 1990.
"Over 3.5 million Australians are struggling to make ends meet. They are the ones who most acutely feel the sting of rising costs for essentials while their more prosperous fellow citizens enjoy the benefits of falling prices for luxury items (down by over eight times the rate of inflation)" said St Vincent de Paul spokesman Terry McCarthy recently
The full text of the statement can be read at the St Vincent de Paul Society website.
The site also contains advice and assistance for participation in the letter writing campaign on poverty in the lead-up to the next election.
A coalition of Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church agencies has also launched a pre-election campaign to get the issue of poverty back on the national agenda. Click on the link for information about the No More Poverty campaign
In the past year the cost of education has increased by three times the inflation rate, housing costs by more twice the rate of inflation and the cost of hospital and medical services has increased by more than three times the rate of inflation. This continues a trend that has been in evidence since 1990.
"Over 3.5 million Australians are struggling to make ends meet. They are the ones who most acutely feel the sting of rising costs for essentials while their more prosperous fellow citizens enjoy the benefits of falling prices for luxury items (down by over eight times the rate of inflation)" said St Vincent de Paul spokesman Terry McCarthy recently
The full text of the statement can be read at the St Vincent de Paul Society website.
The site also contains advice and assistance for participation in the letter writing campaign on poverty in the lead-up to the next election.
A coalition of Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church agencies has also launched a pre-election campaign to get the issue of poverty back on the national agenda. Click on the link for information about the No More Poverty campaign
Comments:
Post a Comment
