More pressure for struggling families, says Saffin
This month’s inflation rise will put further pressure on the family budget at a time when families in this region are already stretched financially, Labor candidate for Page Janelle Saffin says.
Ms Saffin said this electorate has the fifth highest percentage of people on low incomes in the country, with many families struggling financially.
The latest figures show that over the past five years petrol has gone up by more than 40 per cent, fruit and vegetables have gone up by almost 50 per cent, and basics like bread and eggs have increased by more than 20 per cent. On top of these cost increases families are trying to meet the cost of rising rentals and mortgage payments.
“More and more families are turning to charities for help with emergency food and travel assistance,” Ms Saffin says. “The Lismore Neighbourhood Centre is now seeking sponsors for a new food bank to deal with the increased demand for emergency food assistance.”
Ms Saffin says agencies around the region are reporting that it is not only those on Centrelink benefits seeking help, but more and more it is families on low incomes struggling to cope with the financial pressures.
“Mr Howard says working families in Australia have never been better off. That just shows how out of touch Mr Howard and the Nationals are with what is going on in the Page electorate,” she said.
