Concerns about poverty in Australia are rising as cost-of-living pressures hit hard, with a majority of people agreeing income support payments are not enough to live on, according to this research.

It comes after the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee: 2026 report to Government recommended an increase to working-age income support payments in the forthcoming Federal Budget.

Key findings

• 74% of people reject the idea that people on JobSeeker deserve to live in poverty, up from 59% in 2023.
• 74% of people agree that poverty is a big problem in Australia, up from 69% in 2023.
• 60% people agree that government policies have caused some people in Australia to experience poverty.