‘American story’: Waleed Aly tells The Project viewers Australia is no longer the ‘lucky country’

Project Host Waleed Aly says the emergence of a “working poor” in Australia, who cannot afford to heat their homes or pay for groceries, is a “frightening” thing.

The Project's Waleed Aly and co-host Sarah Harris, have revealed why they don't think Australia is the 'lucky country' anymore, as rise of the "working poor" means parents are forced to go hungry so their children can eat.

The emergence of a new class of “working poor” in Australia, who can barely afford to heat their homes or put food on the table, is causing alarm among many Australians.

The Project Host Waleed Aly, speaking on air in an emotional tone, described it as a “frightening” development, and warned it was evidence that Australia was no longer the “lucky country”.

In a heartfelt speech, Aly described how parents were being forced to go without food so that their children could eat.

“This is the one thing we never had – that was an American story,” he told viewers on Thursday night, invoking Australia’s history of strong social security systems and healthcare.

“Suddenly, it’s coming for us”.

“It’s such a tragedy because that goes to the heart of what the whole thing’s about. What politics is about, what our budget is about.

“I think we are losing something really essential. It’s not just a story of hard luck, it is that, but it’s the story of the soul of the country or something.

“There’s something a lot deeper going on here.”

Australian Project Host Waleed Aly expresses concern about the emergence of the “working poor” in Australia who cannot afford basic necessities such as heating and groceries.

His co-host Sarah Harris shares stories of parents who cannot afford to heat their homes and provide for their children, forcing them to make impossible decisions each week.

Aly’s co-host, Sarah Harris, echoed his concerns, revealing how families were being pushed to make “impossible decisions” about essential items to spend their money on weekly.

She recounted how parents told her they pretended to be full so their children could eat – and expressed her disbelief at the situation.

“These are heartbreaking stories,” she said.

“What’s happening here?”

Aly and Harris’ comments were prompted by accusations from Opposition leader Peter Dutton, who had accused the Albanese government of turning Australia’s middle class into the “working poor”.

Dutton claimed that Labor’s budget “hurt working Australians” and risked creating a generation of working poor Australians.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton in his Budget reply was concerned measures were not enough to relieve the financial pressures on families. Picture: Martin Ollman

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said measures to benefit those on welfare, with Jobseeker and Youth Allowance will both rising by $40 a fortnight from September. Picture: Martin Ollman

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a range of measures to benefit those on welfare, with Jobseeker and Youth Allowance both rising by $40 a fortnight from September.

Eligibility for a higher rate of Jobseeker will also be lowered from 60 to 55, following a rise in the number of older Australians on the payment.

However, Dutton warned that the government needed to spend taxpayer money “wisely” and that welfare payments were reserved for the most vulnerable Australians.

He also revealed that Australians would be hit with a tax hike from July, with the government not extending the offset for low and middle-income earners.

As the debate rages on, many Australians are left wondering how the situation could have arisen in a country with such a proud tradition of social welfare.

For Aly and Harris, it is a question of the “soul of the country”, and whether Australia can continue to be a beacon of hope for those who need it most.

Originally published as ‘American story’: Waleed Aly tells The Project viewers Australia is no longer the ‘lucky country’