The newstart allowance is income provided by the Australian Government to cater for unemployed people who are actively looking for work. The current newstart allowance in Australia is $489.70 for a single person without children, $529.80 for someone who is single with depenant children and for someone who is partnered the income is $442 all of which are distributed per fortnight.

The reason why we are advicating for a rise in the newstart allowance is due to the fact that we believe that the current amount is not enough to properly survive under the constant rising of prices of things such as groceries, clothing and other household items. 

In 2018 the Australian poverty rates was 13.2%. The poverty line works out to be $433 per week for a single adult without a partner. This means that someone who is living off the newstart allowance is living bellow the poverty line by a fair amount. We believe that by raising the newstart allowance by at least 25% it will greatly contribiute to lowering the poverty rate in Australia. Not only that, increasing the newstart allowancve will increase Australias social and economic participation. This will then increase the amount of money being circulated in the economy.

By signing this petition you will be contributing to our cause in incresing Australia's current newstart allowance.