Charity group says Aust poverty numbers increasing

from the ABC

A coalition of charity and welfare groups says the number of Australians living in poverty is steadily increasing and is now at just over 11 per cent of the population.

The 'Australia Fair' initiative says the figure is based on the OECD measure, putting the poverty line at 50 per cent of median income.

The figure has increased from 9.8 per cent in 2004.

Dr John Falzon from the St Vincent de Paul Society says there needs to be a new approach to addressing the needs of those who are worst off in society.

"Rather than engaging in piecemeal programs to address poverty, we need the people who are in poverty to cry out for a national vision a national strategy to address the causes of poverty and exclusion in our country," he said.

The President of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Lin Hatfield-Dodds, says both major political parties need to commit more funding to essential services.

"Our belief as supporters of 'Australia Fair' is that in good economic times and with a large budget surplus that it's simply not fair that one in 10 Australians is living poverty, that one in 10 Australians struggles to make ends meet and live a decent life," she said.