Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
Tasmanians shouldn’t have to worry about how they are going to pay the rent, keep the power on or feed their family. More than 120,000 people are, however, living below the poverty line.
Poverty in Tasmania is getting worse by the day, yet neither the Liberal or Labor parties are talking about it. The Greens, however, have a plan that puts struggling Tasmanians first.
While the COVID-19 emergency measures were in place, low income Tasmanians were lifted out of poverty by the JobSeeker supplement, and protected from rent increases and eviction by measures the Greens made sure were included in the COVID emergency legislation. On 1 February this year, the Gutwein Government ended these tenancy protections.
With the JobSeeker supplement ending and rental prices soaring, the Australia Institute research states 30 000 more Tasmanian were plunged in to poverty over the past year. People are sleeping in cars, under bridges and along old forestry roads.
It is because of government priorities that Tasmanian children are now going without. Tackling poverty must be a first priority of the new Parliament.
Tackling poverty through emergency measures when Parliament returns is essential.
People need crisis accommodation, rent relief, fresh food, help with their energy costs, school and transport costs.
We are call on all parties contesting this election to join us in putting poverty back on the agenda.
The Greens have released our plan. We look forward to seeing the Liberals and Labor both present an emergency response plan to lift tens of thousands of Tasmanians out of deepening poverty.
You can read the Greens’ plan here - https://tasmps.greens.org.au/green-new-deal/lifting-tasmanians-out-poverty