The 2024 ACT Cost of Living Report shows that the extent and severity of financial stress in Canberra has worsened as the cost-of-living crisis has continued, hitting low-income households hardest.
The report reveals that over the past five years, children, young people and families have been disproportionately impacted by above-inflation increases in the cost of raising children in the ACT.
A flow-on effect of increased and persistent cost-of-living pressures has been an increase in demand for supports and services provided by our already overstretched and underfunded community sector.
This report calls on the ACT and Australian governments to:
- Ensure a fairer system of concessions and taxation
- Increase investment in cost of living supports
- Expand social and affordable housing
- Invest in a fair, fast and inclusive energy transition
- Increase investment in education equity
- Increase funding for our vital community services
- Raise the rate of Jobseeker and other income support payments to at least $80 a day
- Tackle inflation holistically.
Downloads
2024 Report 2024 ACT Cost of Living Report
(pdf)