Hayden Patterson

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported today that Australia's unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in June, the highest rate since November 2021.

While most economists are focused on how this reflects on the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold interest rates earlier this month, for the 639,500 people who are officially unemployed in Australia, this news is salt in the wound of poverty.

We have two media-trained spokespeople available for interviews:

Hayden Patterson is a welfare advocate and the former president of the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union. His topline comments are:

Economists and politicians are eager to claim that an unemployment rate of 4 to 5 per cent represents full employment. Of course this is ridiculous, especially if you’re one of the unemployed or underemployed Australians battling cost of living pressures. Income support payments are not sufficient to cover the basics like rent, food and health care.

In June, the number of unemployed surged by 34,000 while the number of people with full-time jobs fell by 38,000. This proves what we already know: that unemployment is a structural issue and a deliberate outcome of the government’s economic policy. Yet welfare recipients are consistently demonised as though poverty is an individual failing.

In the past 5 years, I’ve been homeless three times. This is an increasingly common experience for those living on the poverty line as both state and federal governments neglect their responsibilities to provide social security and housing services.

Please contact me to arrange a booking with Yatha or Hayden.

Thank you,

Jinghua Qian (they/them)

0480 618 310

[email protected]

Adelaide is now the second hardest housing market in Australia to buy into, with only one city doing it tougher 🏠👉 https://bit.ly/4hqgEDS

This man has done incredible work on our behalf, he has been a great friend and solid support when I didn't have it anywhere else and at my lowest times which was what helped me survive some of the toughest times I've experienced in my trauma filled 59 years of life.

He has given some solid and real advice when needed, and gas made me feel a worth when it was the last thing I was thinking at the time, and gave me the strength to do many things I never would've imagined possible in my wildest dreams.

Throughout it all, was the consistent voice of reason in murky moments, and the non judgemental friend I needed on so many occasions with that unflinching honesty and advice throughout.

I'm already missing you Ross!

SACOSS CEO Ross Womersley resigning after more than 15 years of leadership - SACOSS After 15 plus years of dedicated leadership, SACOSS’ current CEO, Ross Womersley has decided to resign from his position, effective 30 June 2025.

There is only one day left to register for the SACOSS community sector workforce summit. Registrations close COB Friday 1 Nov https://sacoss.org.au/securing-the-future/

Slums of SA: The condemned houses too bad to rent More than 600 properties are on a state housing shame list with rents capped at as little as $5.

From today you'll get an extra $1/day if you are on Jobseeker Payment. Depending on when you report to Centrelink you might not get the full $15 extra in your next payment.
What will you do with that extra $1 every day? 😟

Please Mr Treasurer, I'd like my extra dollar to be a Bluey dollar. (They are apparently worth about $5 each.)