Yawning poverty gap sending many to brink

from The Illawarra mercury

By PAUL McINERNEY

PROMINENT social justice advocate and national chair of Anti-Poverty Week, Professor Julian Disney, believes the gap between rich and poor in Australia can only get bigger.

"Poverty can take many forms, but a common thread emerging shows the close links between physical and mental disability and poverty," he told the Mercury.

Prof Disney said governments were failing to come to grips with the extent of the problem in Australia and the most effective ways of closing the poverty gap.

"Politicians are constantly saying they recognise that more than just money is needed to turn things around, but when it comes to finding real solutions they throw money at the problem," he said.

He said Anti-Poverty Week, which runs until Saturday, was as much about finding solutions to poverty as it was about creating public awareness.