Geography Week 9

 

Perceptions of Poverty



(Klay 2011, 'Homeless')

Traditionally poverty has long been considered an issue in Third World countries such as Somalia or Ethiopia; however an increasing number of people are living below the poverty line much closer to home. A recent study conducted by the Australian Council of Social Service (referred to hereafter as ACOSS), suggests as many as ‘1 in 8 people, including 1 in 6 children were living at or below this poverty line’ in Australia (2012, p.6 ¶4). ACOSS define poverty as ‘50% of the median household income’ which equates to approximately ‘$358 per week for a single adult… [And] for a couple with 2 children it was $752’ (ACOSS 2012, p.6 ¶5). This method of calculating poverty is ‘relatively generous by international standards,’ consequently if the figures were based on UK standards ‘Australian’s living in poverty would double’ (The Big Issue n.d., ¶4). According to the Federal Budget issued in May 2012 (cited in Hudson 2012, ¶3), the Australian Government increased spending on welfare and social security to approximately ‘one third’ of the national budget yet the effects of this are non-existent. Despite ‘20 years of economic growth’ a rising number of Australians find themselves struggling to make ends meet (ACOSS 2012, p.6 ¶1). Surprisingly, the government increased their international aid budget to ‘$5.2 billion’, funds that would be better spent on income support and developing skills programs for the unemployed (Carr 2012, p.3 ¶6). Although foreign aid is an admirable and necessary part of Global politics, the decision makers in Canberra should heed the old adage, charity begins at home.

References

Australian Council of Social Service 2012, Poverty In Australia, http://acoss.org.au/uploads/ACOSS%20Poverty%20Report%202012_Final.pdf, [Accessed 3 November 2012]

The Big Issue n.d., Poverty In Australia, http://www.thebigissue.org.au/Facts_Figures_Poverty_Homelessness_Australia.pdf, [Accessed 3 November 2012]

Carr, B 2012, Helping The World’s Poor: Implementing Effective Aid, Budget Australia’s International Development Assistance Program 2012-13, http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/ministerial_statements/ausaid/download/ausaid.pdf, [Accessed 3 November 2012]

Hudson, P 2012, ‘Government’s Welfare Budget Costs $5000 A Head’, http://www.news.com.au/money/federal-budget/welfare-budget-costing-5000-a-head/story-fn84fgcm-1226351467594, [Accessed 3 November 2012]

Images

Klay 2011, ‘Homeless’, http://www.psylords.info/news/australian-unemployed-living-nearbelow-poverty-line/, [Accessed 3 November 2012]