Murray Bridge the focus of Senate inquiry into poverty

A slew of worrying social issues plaguing the semirural town – including a lack of access to crucial health services – will come under the microscope at a major parliamentary inquiry.

Unemployment, housing affordability and a lack of access to crucial health services are among a slew of worrying issues plaguing the semirural town of Murray Bridge, which will be at the centre of a major federal parliamentary inquiry.

The Senate’s inquiry into the extent and nature of poverty in Australia will be held in the South Australian town on Tuesday – the first to be heard outside a capital city since the probe was launched in September.

The inquiry will hear from several community leaders and social policy experts, including SA Council of Social Service chief executive Ross Womersley, who said there were many “drivers of poverty” troubling Murray Bridge.

“There is certainly a number of forces at work including issues around access to employment, the level of social security payments, housing and rental affordability (and) access to healthcare and post-secondary education,” Mr Womersley said.

Murray Bridge, which struggled after the destruction of a major employer in Thomas Foods International’s local abattoir, lags behind the rest of SA and the nation in several key economic and social statistics.

Murray Bridge will be at the centre of a major federal parliamentary inquiry.

The inquiry will hear from several community leaders and social policy experts. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The 2021 census data showed the town’s median household weekly income was $1077 – well below the state’s overall median of $1455 – while its unemployment rate was also significantly higher.

The proportion of people in Murray Bridge living with long-term health conditions such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes and mental health conditions are also much higher than the overall rates for SA and Australia.

Just 8.2 per cent of Murray Bridge citizens have obtained a Bachelor Degree level of education, compared with SA’s overall of 22.7 per cent.

South Australian Labor senator Marielle Smith pushed for a hearing in Murray Bridge once the Community Affairs References Committee established the poverty inquiry.

“Murray Bridge is a wonderful town with many strengths – not least of which is its tight knit and dedicated local community,” Senator Smith, who is the committee’s deputy chairwoman, said.

“However, like in many parts of regional Australia, local residents have told me there are some really serious challenges, including significant experience of disadvantage for some residents, and challenges in access to health services like mental health support and allied health.”

SA Labor senator and committee deputy chair Marielle Smith.

Senator Smith said said it was important the “experiences of those in Murray Bridge doing it really tough were front and centre of our current inquiry”.

Robbi Williams, the chief executive of social policy organisation JFA Purple Orange, said regional South Australians broadly were forced to travel further at higher costs to attend medical appointments.

Purple Orange representatives will raise with the committee issues affecting disabled South Australians.

“People living with disability are significantly under-represented in the workforce and those who are employed typically earn much less,” Mr Williams said.

“Australia is currently experiencing a housing crisis, but for people living with disability the impact of affordability problems is exacerbated by a shortage of accessible properties.”

[e-mail]