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South Australians show the most Christmas spirit for those that are struggling

A new survey has shown strong support – especially from SA – for giving Newstart recipients a once-off Christmas payment. But not everyone agrees.

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Unemployed people should get a one-off Christmas bonus to help with the costs of the festive season, according to 67 per cent of South Australians, a new survey has revealed.

The survey by Left-wing think tank The Australia Institute has found two in three Australians (63 per cent) support a holiday supplement for Newstart recipients.

The Institute’s deputy director Ebony Bennett said “no one likes a scrooge at Christmas” and Australians clearly think it’s time for the Government to show a little generosity to those who are on Newstart.

“South Australia was the most generous state, where the highest rate of support for a Newstart Christmas boost was recorded,” Ms Bennett said.

“Many Australians struggle to make ends meet towards the end of the year, with the holidays putting increased pressure on the family budget, but for those on Newstart it is especially hard.

“While the general rate of Newstart is too low and should be lifted across the board, Australians also strongly support the idea of a modest payment to help families through the holiday season.”

“It is often said that Christmas is a time for giving and this research shows that Australians are, at heart, a generous people who want to give those on Newstart a boost.”

Christmas is a time for giving, which many people believe should mean giving a holiday bonus to Newstart recipients.
Christmas is a time for giving, which many people believe should mean giving a holiday bonus to Newstart recipients.

The poll of more than 2000 Australians found:

– One in four oppose a supplement

– Majority support for a holiday supplement was recorded in each income group support a holiday supplement with except for those in households earning more than $200,000 per year

– Support for a holiday supplement is highest among Labor (76 per cent) and Greens (75 per cent) voters, but it exceeds 50 per cent among all voting intentions

– When asked how much the bonus should be, the most popular response (30 per cent) was that the holiday supplement should be $500 or more.

Business groups and welfare agencies have long argued for an increase in the Newstart allowance.

In the lead up to the election Labor promised a review into the rate.

But neither major party vowed to raise the rate.

Newstart is the government allowance paid to the majority of jobseekers in Australia.

The payment has not increased, in real terms, for more than 20 years.

Its approximately 700,000 recipients currently get $273 a week - about $39 a day.

In South Australia, there are about 68,000 recipients on Newstart.

Of those, about 67 per cent have received the payment for 12 months or longer.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/south-australians-show-the-most-christmas-spirit-for-those-that-are-struggling/news-story/0c68db23f6a0ca4721118eba9edc7923