Barnaby Joyce says he’s struggling to support two families on $211k

Barnaby Joyce says he’s struggling to support his two families, buying the cheapest groceries and turning his heater off on -10C nights.

Barnaby Joyce has revealed how he’s struggling to support his two families — buying the cheapest groceries in the supermarket and turning his heater off on -10C nights.

In an interview with the Courier Mail, the former deputy Prime Minister said one of his only “treats” is a cup of coffee because by the end of the month because he barely has any cash left.

Go to the Courier Mail to read the full interview with Barnaby Joyce

Despite his $211,000 salary, the father of six told the newspaper he’s killing his own meat, not going out for dinner and trying to fix things himself if they break down.

Barnaby Joyce says he’s struggling on $211,000 a year. Picture: Kym Smith

He revealed his financial stress to explain why he’d broken ranks with the Morrison Government by calling for an increase to unemployment benefits.

“I’m not crying in my beer because there are thousands, thousands doing it much tougher than me,’’ he told the Courier Mail. “It’s not that I’m not getting money it’s just that it’s spread so thin.”

However, his revelation has not gone down well with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

“A lot of people would say I wish I had $211,000 a year,” she told the Today show this morning. “What a ridiculous way to explain himself and he is saying the Newstart allowance people need an extra hand which I’ve been saying for quite some time now.

“But the way he has explained it is not a good look. And, you know, $211,000, I don’t complain about it. I think we’re on a good wage. Most of mine goes to helping my kids,

actually. But that is what parents do.

“The fact is that it’s — people out there who are on such low incomes and trying to survive just, you know, a few dollars a day is just ridiculous.

Pauline Hanson said she didn’t have sympathy for Mr Joyce.

“They do need an increase in the Newstart allowance. It’s not — it shouldn’t be a way of life but people cannot get those job, they can’t get extra employment they need.

“They need to pay rent and put food on the table. Let’s be realistic about this and try to help those people on Newstart allowance.”

The former Nationals leader, along with senior Liberal Dean Smith and Russell Broadbent, said the Newstart allowance is too low.

They’re joined by business and seniors groups, the Reserve Bank, unions, the Greens, the welfare lobby and former prime minister John Howard.

The payment is $555.70 a fortnight for a single person without children.

The Greens and the peak body for social services organisations, ACOSS, have been pushing for a $75-a-week boost to Newstart.

However, it seems Scott Morrison is unmoved by the calls.

“For those who are on Newstart … well over 90 per cent, about 99 per cent, of people who are on Newstart are actually on other forms of payments as well,” Mr Morrison told parliament last week.

“It’s about getting people into jobs. The latest jobs figures show 20,000 additional full-time jobs. That’s good news, that’s great news, more jobs. How good are jobs.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is rejecting calls to increase Newstart. Picture: AAP Image/Gary Day

The central bank governor has said raising Newstart would help stimulate the economy, while Mr Howard has stated the payment should no longer be frozen.

“I am someone who believes the Newstart allowance amount must be more than reviewed — which was Labor’s lame position — it should be increased,” Senator Smith told the upper house.

He added that the government could find the money to raise Newstart within existing resources.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson believes the $40-a-day payment is too low, while Nationals frontbencher Matt Canavan and Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos have also backed calls to boost Newstart.

“It seems almost everybody in this country except Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg know that Newstart is inadequate,” shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers told reporters.

“The reason why we’re calling on the government to review and increase Newstart is because it’s necessary to alleviate poverty, to get people in a position to find a job, but also good for the economy.”