Calls for Australia to implement poverty line to measure number of people struggling to make ends meet

Josh isn't like most high school students. He's given a Ted talk and advocates on youth issues across the nation, but he also misses out because he's living in poverty. I sometimes either stay up a bit later than than most. I'm thinking about this exact topic and how to best support my family. I sometimes take up jobs outside of the home just to to make sure the family can get by. That's on top of helping care for his 10 year old sister who has a number of complex medical needs and requires round the clock care. Yeah, the family gets a carer S pension, but mum Laura says it's not enough. Even if things seem OK, they may look at us from the outside and not realize just actually how tough and how much stress and and budgeting and thought and everything planning perhaps goes into making sure that my children are fed and clothed. Come on Sasha, let's go collect the eggs. It's estimated about one in six children are living below the poverty line, but we don't know exactly how many. Josh and his mum are supporting a campaign run by End Child Poverty calling for Australia to legislate a commitment to measuring the problem. And ending it, it places an accountability on government but more importantly I think it keeps the Australian community informed. Currently Australian community has no idea what child poverty is like in this country. While countries like the US, Canada and New Zealand all have government measured poverty lines, Australia doesn't. Research for the campaign from the Australia Institute shows four in five Australians support the government regularly reporting on poverty and lifting income support. Poverty is a policy choice, these are things that can be addressed, we know how to do them. It requires a will, but if we're not even measuring it then it makes it very easy to hide it. New Zealand introduced similar legislation in 2018. It's really important because it ensures that ongoing focus is there for successive governments. It means that it doesn't slip out of focus when issues of the day come up. Social Services Minister Amanda Richworth didn't answer questions about the idea of similar legislation in Australia, but she says the Commonwealth has committed $200 million to help local communities reduce disadvantage in their areas. Laura wants to see payments increased and a pledge to measure poverty. We're not going to have an idea as a nation how we are actually tracking. And I feel like by the government not doing that thus far, it's very, very easy to just pretend that there is no issue with poverty. With inflation still running hot, it's an issue unlikely to shrink anytime soon.