Unions call for dole payments to be raised

The Australian Council of Trade Unions said the Newstart allowance has not increased in real terms for 20 years and represents just 18% of the average Australian wage. This comes after the National Welfare Rights Network warns Australia is in the grip of an unemployment crisis with more 105,000 people out of work for more than five years. The ACTU President Ged Kearney said the dole is barely enough to live on, and is not enough to meet the costs of finding employment. He said this is a contributing factor in entrenching people in long-term poverty, letting members of the community down.