New data shows price hikes in fuel and housing for Territorians

New data shows food, fuel, housing and income continues to cause pressure on Territory families. Full details here.

TERRITORIANS are suffering under some of the most significant increases to cost of living in the country, according to a new report.

Northern Territory Council of Social Service chief executive Deborah Di Natale said the organisation’s 31st Cost of Living Report showed a consumer price index (CPI) rise of 6 per cent in the 12 months from December 2020 to 2021, well above the national average of 3.5 per cent.

“Territorians are doing it tough,” Ms Di Natale said.

“The CPI increases we are seeing here are far higher than the national averages. We need the Commonwealth and NT governments to recognise these increases for critical services like health, childcare and education, and for living costs such as housing, transport and food.”

NT aged pensioners were hit the hardest, particularly by the rising cost of housing and the lack of change to income support payments in 2021.

In Darwin, rents rose 8 per cent compared to 0.4 per cent nationally.

Ms Di Natale said in the NT, about half of all Territorians were renters and social housing waitlists were up to eight years long.

The data from December 2020 to December 2021 reveals Darwin had the highest increase in price movement for goods and services of all Australian capital cities.

Housing, including utilities, increased 15.9 per cent in Darwin, compared to 4 per cent nationally.

Automotive fuel went up 41.4 per cent in Darwin compared with 32.3 per cent nationally. Food, health, transport and education respectively rose.

Ms Di Natale said the increases for people in remote and very remote areas were even more severe.

“We need leadership from the Commonwealth and NT government on this, with a commitment to investment in aff­ordable housing, including subsidised rental housing and targeted a­ffordable home ownership programs,” she said.

The report showed fuel prices in remote areas of the NT showed a larger disparity in cost and affordability.

The report acknowledged the rises to JobSeeker during Covid lifted people above the poverty line.

“The additional $550 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement made a significant impact on the lives of recipients, with people reporting an increased ability to meet basic needs, such as the ability to afford food, rent, warm clothing and other incidentals,” the report read.

NTCOSS has called on the new federal Labor government and NT government to increase income support, rental assistant payments and various subsidies to help people move beyond the poverty line.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the government would continue to deliver multiple programs to relieve the stress.

She said government was focused on creating more jobs, heavily subsidising electricity costs, investing in renewables and building more affordable housing, while also delivering on the Northern Territory housing strategy.

In the past week the Albanese government officially backed a pay increase for low wage workers.

Originally published as New data shows price hikes in fuel and housing for Territorians