The Australian Council of Social Service says we’re on track to emerge from the pandemic as a more unequal society.

In 2020 COVID support payments helped reduce poverty by half but it is now worse than pre-pandemic levels.

By January 2021 the income of a single adult on the unemployment payment, JobSeeker, sank to 15 per cent below the poverty line ($457 per week).

Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cass Goldie told Ben Fordham “we learned how to end poverty” during the pandemic.

“Let’s fix the rate of JobSeeker and let’s invest in fixing the housing costs. They’re the two big levers that could end poverty in Australia.”

Press PLAY below to hear the full interview

Image: Getty