Australians are sleeping in cars, businesses are struggling, and crime is tearing through regional and remote communities, the Cost of Living Committee has heard.
At the hearing in Alice Springs, Senator Jane Hume and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price heard harrowing stories about the impact the cost of living crisis is having on locals.
High inflation, freight and transport costs has pushed up the prices of goods in regional and remote Australia, meaning that the $50 food voucher the Salvation Army used to provide to feed a whole family is no longer enough.
Mayor of Alice Springs, Mr Matt Paterson, said that the cost of freight to regional areas like Alice Springs increased the costs of goods across the board, noting that “a dollar doesn’t go as far in regional Australia as it does everywhere else”.
Witnesses from the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce told the Committee there was less tourism flowing into Alice Springs and similar communities as Australians reprioritise their spending to cope with the cost of living.
While a representative from a local women’s support organisation said if they could ask for one thing from the Government, it would be for more jobs, not welfare.
Mr Gavin Morris, Principal of the Yipirinya School, said it was harder to attract and retain teachers at the school due to high accommodation costs, with the staff turnover causing more anti-social behaviour with students and in the community.
Locals who appeared at the Community Forum reported that the deteriorating law and order situation in Alice Springs was yet another pressure for businesses who are already doing it tough.
One witness said the increase in crime and damage to property was costing small businesses, which could barely afford to pay for the repairs.
Senator Hume said the cost of living crisis goes beyond those primary issues like struggling to pay a bill, with secondary effects having a serious impact on Australians too.
“Cost of living pressures are contributing to family and relationship breakdowns, negatively impacting education outcomes, and creating anti-social behaviour.
“The cost of living crisis can’t be looked at through a single lens but the Albanese Government isn't even willing to acknowledge there is a problem.
“With no plan to get inflation under control, Labor has waved the white flag on the cost of living. Those in regional and remote Australia are bearing the brunt of this crisis,” Senator Hume said.
Senator Nampijinpa Price said the Labor Government had shown it is not interested in listening to communities like Alice Springs.
“We have heard today about the impact crime is having on driving up business costs, and that there are community members who are desperate because their children’s basic needs are not able to be met.”
“This is best summarised by the fact the Prime Minister was forced into Alice Springs for a few hours earlier this year.
“He announced $250 million for a package to provide relief to residents yet this money has not been allocated and local initiatives such as the Yipirinya Boarding School still can not get a look in,” Senator Nampijinpa Price concluded.
Senator Hume and Senator Nampijinpa Price called on all Australians to share their stories of how the cost of living is impacting them by providing submissions to yourcostofliving.au.