December 22, 2014
A single unemployed man living in Kingaroy does not have enough income to meet a basic standard of living, according to a report released by the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS).
The report examined the difference in the cost of living in six centres across Queensland: Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Mt Isa, Rockhampton and Kingaroy.
It found that Mt Isa was the most expensive place to live across a variety of scenarios because of extremely high housing costs.
While Kingaroy, Cairns and Rockhampton were cheaper, higher unemployment meant residents were more likely to rely on government allowances and payments.
According to QCOSS, an unemployed single man in Kingaroy earns $111 per week less than is required to meet a basic standard of living.
However, a single mum with two children is best off in Kingaroy, with a weekly surplus of $152.
The cost of renting was also the lowest in Kingaroy.
* * *
Unemployed Single Male
- Age 45
- Rents a three-bedroom house with two other adults
- Newstart is primary source of income.
- Eligible for government allowances, including rent assistance and income support bonus
- Owns a car
Income v Expenditure (weekly surplus)
Brisbane -$7, Gold Coast -$13, Cairns -$6, Mt Isa -$165, Rockhampton -$2, Kingaroy -$111
* * *
Single Parent Family
- 35-year-old mum with two children, aged 7 and 8
- Rents three-bedroom house
- Employed casually
- Eligible for pensioner concession card, income supplemented by government allowances
- Owns a car
Income v Expenditure (weekly surplus)
Brisbane +$8, Gold Coast -$1, Cairns +$53, Mt Isa -$78, Rockhampton +$78, Kingaroy +$152
* * *
Two Parent Family
- Parents aged 40 and 42 with two children, aged 12 and 14
- Rents three-bedroom house
- One fully employed, one part-time
- Eligible for government allowances
- Owns a car
Income v Expenditure (weekly surplus)
Brisbane +$117, Gold Coast +$99, Cairns +$179, Mt Isa -$74, Rockhampton +$215, Kingaroy +$210
* * *
The QCOSS report noted that low-income households were more likely to struggle with the rising cost of living because they spent a greater share of income on essentials such as food, housing and electricity.
The cost of essential items such as healthcare, housing and electricity were also rising much faster that the CPI.
Low-income households also tended to face slower income growth.
* * *
QCOSS recommended that:
- State and Federal governments support the construction of affordable housing for low-income households
- The Federal Government increase the base rate of the Newstart Allowance by $50 per week and index future payments to wages rather than CPI
- Re-instate eligibility for single parents to the Parenting Payment
- Improve the targeting of housing assistance through the Commonwealth Rent Assistance program
- State Government review concessions to low-income households to ensure they are targeted at those in need
Download the QCOSS Cost Of Living Report (Regional Report Issue 1, 2014) (1.35Mb PDF)
