By Tracy Gordon

Key Australian charities have come out in support of recommendations made by the Senate committee that federal, state and territory governments develop a national strategy to tackle poverty and called for a new anti-poverty unit reporting directly to the Prime Minister.
A recently released Senate Committee Report on Poverty and Financial Hardship has found that 21 per cent of households, or 3.6 million Austrlians, live on less than $400 per week – less than the minimum wage.
Anglicare Victoria CEO Dr Ray Cleary called on the Australian Government to work with the community to develop a national strategy to break the cycle of poverty. “The evidence is overwhelming that poverty is a major problem. This report shows that as we speak over 2 million Australians are battling below the poverty line. This situation must be acknowledged by the Australian government and confronted” Dr Cleary said.
The report has highlighted the fact that it is the rapid growth of inequality, particularly in the last decade, which is driving more and more Australians into deprivation and disadvantage.  While strong economic gains have been made over the past two decades, the level of inequality, poverty, homelessness and housing stress, long-term unemployment, suicide and child abuse has also been rising.
The inquiry found the financial stress of poor households is due to a decline in their real incomes.
The Salvation Army says the Commonwealth Government needs to address housing affordability, provide a wide range of education and training options for unemployed people and ensure income support levels that are linked to broader economic conditions.