The survey found a rise in the number of Australians living in poverty amid the cost of living crisis

CANBERRA, May 17 (IANS) A new survey conducted by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) on Wednesday revealed that 93 per cent of people who had used a charity’s services in the past 12 months were struggling to afford basic items amid the cost of living calamity.

Of the 1,700 people who took part in the survey, about 25 percent said they could not afford to take their children to see a doctor or dentist, and one in five said they could not provide three meals a day, reports Xinhua.

More than half said they skip meals to save money.

Stuart Glover, the charity’s mission secretary, said the typical respondent was left with less than A$6 ($4) a day after paying basic living costs.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of ordinary Australians falling over the past year,” he was quoted by the AAP as saying, adding that the cost-of-living crisis was making it nearly impossible for people who were struggling to survive without help.

According to data released in April by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the consumer price index (CPI) rose 7 per cent in the 12 months to March – down from 7.8 per cent in the year to December 2022.

Responding to the data, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jim Chalmers said Australia had passed the peak of its inflation crisis, but cost-of-living pressures would remain lingering.

– Jans

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