Sometimes {sarcastic} humour is the only defence left in an increasingly inhospitable world

 

Some social media posts use humour to criticise the supermarkets' prices.(Instagram: Grassroots Action Network Tasmania). ABC News, 8 September 2023

Coles announces new series 'Feed your family for under $1,000' https://t.co/2vRDyfgdzj

— The Chaser (@chaser) September 6, 2023

via @ChrisHeHim1

On 30 August 2023 the Australian Bureau of Statistics released its Monthly Consumer Price Index Indicator for July 2023 showing the monthly CPI indicator rose 4.9% in the twelve months to July, with the most significant price rises being Housing (+7.3%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+5.6%) - supposedly offset by a fall in Automotive fuel (-7.6%). Rent was listed as rising by +7.6% and electricity rose by +15.7%. While the Insurance and financial services category was recorded at +8.5%.

It is getting harder and harder for those on low fixed incomes to afford a range of healthy fresh food, better quality dried/processed food, milk, tea, coffee, juice, condiments or even enough bread for a fortnight. Right now it feels like a visit to Coles or Woolworths costs three times as much for half the number of items.

Prices are misleading at ⁦@Coles⁩. $1.70 x 2 = $3.40. Yet Coles’ down-down “specials” show “2 for $4”. How widespread is this mathematical duplicity? ⁦@acccgovau⁩ is on the case but time for consumers to protest about theft in advertising. ⁦@hijessicayun⁩ SMH. pic.twitter.com/TqpYEmy1HZ

— Quentin Dempster (@QuentinDempster) September 6, 2023

As for medications - by the time one is standing at the pharmacy checkout prices are becoming prohibitive - over $61 for around 28 days supply of just six of the eight medications required on a daily basis is not unusual.

When it comes to those unexpected out-of-pocket expenses involving GP or medical specialist visits - those expenses often need 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' budgeting - with many GPs even charging an additional fixed fee just to put your behind on the consulting room chair. One of those chairs would bring in around an extra $240-$320 per 8hr day on top of the medical consultation fees accrued for that working day.

Of course the need for new clothing or shoes frequently loses out to all these other living expenses.

It's no wonder second-hand stores & food banks have so many customers these days.

Quote of the Week

“High rents are a major contributor to household insecurity, personal stress and the risk of people, including children, slipping into real poverty and even homelessness. The North Coast rental market disadvantages many people because the competition for decent and affordable housing greatly outstrips supply. The reasons for this crisis are varied, including a general lack of rental stock, many houses in coastal towns becoming holiday rentals and the need to accommodate workers on the road projects, which results in inflated rents that stay that way after the workers move on.”  [St Vincent de Paul regional executive officer Michael Timbrell quoted in The Daily Examiner, 18 July 2019]

Housing affordability for NSW North Coast renters is beyond the reach of many

On 1 May 2019 The Financial Review reported on the top twenty federal electorates with the highest level of rental stress in Australia.

The Northern Rivers federal electorates of Richmond and Page were placed in 3rd & 8th positions respectively, with a total of 13,937 household experiencing rental stress .

While the mid-North Coast federal electorates of Lyne and Cowper came in 6th & 10th place, with a total of 13,283 households under rental stress.

Anglicare Australia's 2018 Rental Affordability Snapshot demonstrates that this stress is an ongoing problem with housing affordability for those on low incomes on the NSW North Coast.

In 2018 five of the six NSW local government areas with the most unaffordable rentals were on the Far and Mid North Coast.

A St Vincent de Paul Society spokesperson is reported in The Daily Examiner this week highlighting the fact that people on the North Coast are going without food in order to keep their rental accommodation.

The Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government spends literally billions supporting property speculators and investors in their aspirations to become personally wealthy, but is ignoring the plight of low income renters trying to keep a roof over their heads.

If it will no longer invest in affordable housing through adequate targeted federal funding tied to the states increasing social/community housing stocks, the least it can do is raise the Commonwealth Rental Assistance Payment available to eligible low-income individuals and families.