Poverty measure & targets needed to reduce Australian poverty

Poverty in Australia won’t be reduced without standard measurement and targets to reduce it. The call to address poverty and disadvantage comes at the beginning of Anti-Poverty Week.

Activities and events around the country begin today to highlight what poverty means in Australia, particularly for children and young people, people experiencing homelessness and housing stress as well as people on income supports.

“Fifty years ago The Henderson Inquiry recommended measures to ensure no Australian falls below the poverty line,” says Simon Schrapel, Anti-Poverty Week National Co-Chair.

“We still have more than 3.3 million Australians in poverty with this figure expected to rise when new data is released this coming week.

“Without the Australian Government adopting a standard measure of poverty and setting a target to reduce it, we can only expect to see poverty continue to rise and more people struggle to survive.

“All levels of government must make genuine and lasting commitments to reducing poverty with the Federal Government taking the lead.

“This Anti-Poverty Week we are calling on the Federal Government to immediately adopt a dual measurement of poverty that includes income thresholds together with measures that address other dimensions of essential living costs such as housing, health, education, electricity and food.

“It is only by adopting such measures that we can ensure we have an endorsed and accepted approach to hold our nation to account in reducing the impacts of poverty on Australians,” says Simon.

Thousands of people from hundreds of organisations will be part of more than fifty events and activities in every state and territory during Anti-Poverty Week 2025.

“This Anti-Poverty Week we again focus on what poverty means for children and young people, people experiencing homelessness and housing stress as well as people who rely on income support payments to get by says Mark Jeffery, Anti-Poverty Week National Director.

“These are some of the people most likely to be in poverty in Australia. We are saying it’s time to End Child Poverty, make sure Everybody’s Home and Raise the Rate for people on income supports. It’s time for everybody to act now to address poverty and disadvantage. Poverty exists, poverty hurts us all and we can all do something about it,” says Mark.

Key events in each state and territory:

 For all activities and events https://antipovertyweek.org.au/events/

Simon Schrapel, National Co-Chair, 0411 643 132

Mark Jeffery, National Director, 0419 732 583