Massive relief on the horizon? Government reveals new cost of living measures for rent and medicines
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In a world where the cost of living seems to be rising, it's refreshing to hear that relief may be on the way for many Australians feeling the pinch.
The federal government has recently unveiled a series of measures aimed at providing much-needed assistance to those struggling with rent and healthcare costs.
This could be a game-changer for over one million households across the nation.
From 20 September, the government is set to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent.
This comes on the heels of a 15 percent increase initiated last year, demonstrating a concerted effort to alleviate the financial burden on renters.
The move is part of a broader package designed to tackle the cost of living crisis that has been a persistent challenge for many Australians.
But the good news doesn't stop there. According to Health Minister Mark Butler, the package also includes a plan to make a range of essential medicines available as 60-day prescriptions.
This initiative, which kicked off on 1 September, is expected to free up access to a total of 300 key medications for conditions such as acne, anxiety, asthma, depression, reflux, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma, and more.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has highlighted that Australians have already saved over half a billion dollars thanks to a similar medicine program introduced at the start of the year.
'We know people are doing it tough, which is why we are continuing to deliver real cost of living relief like cheaper medicines,' he stated.
‘This is the real cost of living relief, putting more money back into people’s hip pockets.’
Asthma Australia's Director of Health Knowledge, Anthony Flynn, said this initiative can help people ‘save time, money, and better manage their condition’.
‘Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the developed world,’ he said.
‘Of the 2.8 million people with asthma in Australia, regular inhaled preventer therapy is recommended for the majority.’
‘60-day prescribing has the potential to help millions of Australians with asthma to control their condition.’
Kerry Goldworth, an asthma patient, expressed the impact this could have on her family.
‘So many people are struggling with the cost of living. If you’ve got more than one person with asthma in your family, or if even just yourself, this will be a real help,’ she said.
The government's package arrives amid ongoing scrutiny over its handling of the cost-of-living crisis.
In addition to the rent assistance increase, the government has also announced an extension of the higher rate of JobSeeker to single recipients assessed to have a partial capacity to work less than 15 hours per week.
This means an additional $54.90 a fortnight for those eligible, with payments also being indexed for people on JobSeeker, age and disability pension, and more.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has stated that these measures are part of a broader strategy to ease the cost of living while combating inflation.
The government's energy bill relief and the additional increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance are projected to directly reduce inflation by half a percentage point in 2024–25 without adding to broader inflationary pressures.
‘The primary focus of the Albanese government is to ease the cost of living for Australians at the same time as we fight inflation in our economy,’ he said.
‘Treasury estimates the government’s energy bill relief and additional increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance will directly reduce inflation by half of a percentage point in 2024–25 and are not expected to add to broader inflationary pressures.’
‘Inflation is still higher than we’d like, but it’s less than half its peak and much lower than the 6.1 per cent we inherited from the Coalition.’
‘We know there’s more to do in the fight against inflation because people are doing it tough, and that’s why we’re rolling out more responsible cost-of-living relief from September at the same time as we turn big Liberal deficits into Labor surpluses.’
Members, how will these changes impact your life? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
The federal government has recently unveiled a series of measures aimed at providing much-needed assistance to those struggling with rent and healthcare costs.
This could be a game-changer for over one million households across the nation.
From 20 September, the government is set to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent.
This comes on the heels of a 15 percent increase initiated last year, demonstrating a concerted effort to alleviate the financial burden on renters.
The move is part of a broader package designed to tackle the cost of living crisis that has been a persistent challenge for many Australians.
The government planned to increase rent and healthcare relief. Credit: Shutterstock
But the good news doesn't stop there. According to Health Minister Mark Butler, the package also includes a plan to make a range of essential medicines available as 60-day prescriptions.
This initiative, which kicked off on 1 September, is expected to free up access to a total of 300 key medications for conditions such as acne, anxiety, asthma, depression, reflux, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma, and more.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has highlighted that Australians have already saved over half a billion dollars thanks to a similar medicine program introduced at the start of the year.
'We know people are doing it tough, which is why we are continuing to deliver real cost of living relief like cheaper medicines,' he stated.
‘This is the real cost of living relief, putting more money back into people’s hip pockets.’
Asthma Australia's Director of Health Knowledge, Anthony Flynn, said this initiative can help people ‘save time, money, and better manage their condition’.
‘Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the developed world,’ he said.
‘Of the 2.8 million people with asthma in Australia, regular inhaled preventer therapy is recommended for the majority.’
‘60-day prescribing has the potential to help millions of Australians with asthma to control their condition.’
Kerry Goldworth, an asthma patient, expressed the impact this could have on her family.
‘So many people are struggling with the cost of living. If you’ve got more than one person with asthma in your family, or if even just yourself, this will be a real help,’ she said.
The government's package arrives amid ongoing scrutiny over its handling of the cost-of-living crisis.
In addition to the rent assistance increase, the government has also announced an extension of the higher rate of JobSeeker to single recipients assessed to have a partial capacity to work less than 15 hours per week.
This means an additional $54.90 a fortnight for those eligible, with payments also being indexed for people on JobSeeker, age and disability pension, and more.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has stated that these measures are part of a broader strategy to ease the cost of living while combating inflation.
The government's energy bill relief and the additional increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance are projected to directly reduce inflation by half a percentage point in 2024–25 without adding to broader inflationary pressures.
‘The primary focus of the Albanese government is to ease the cost of living for Australians at the same time as we fight inflation in our economy,’ he said.
‘Treasury estimates the government’s energy bill relief and additional increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance will directly reduce inflation by half of a percentage point in 2024–25 and are not expected to add to broader inflationary pressures.’
‘Inflation is still higher than we’d like, but it’s less than half its peak and much lower than the 6.1 per cent we inherited from the Coalition.’
‘We know there’s more to do in the fight against inflation because people are doing it tough, and that’s why we’re rolling out more responsible cost-of-living relief from September at the same time as we turn big Liberal deficits into Labor surpluses.’
