Our forgotten poor

it's said that a "rising tide lifts all boats" - that the best policy to reduce poverty is to promote economic growth. If that's the case, where have we gone wrong?

Australia has recorded 15 years of almost unbroken economic growth. In fact, from 2001 to 2006, growth averaged 3 per cent a year - well above the average rate of economic growth in the OECD. Yet new figures released recently by the Australian Council of Social Service reveal that a staggering 11 per cent of Australians live below the poverty line set by the OECD. This equates to about 2.2 million Australians (including 412,000 children).

Disturbingly, the data shows that over time the divide between the "haves" and "have nots" has become a gulf. In 2003-04, there were 9.8 per cent of Australians living below the poverty line. Ironically, for a country that prides itself on a "fair go", our nation is becoming more unequal as each year passes.

Sadly, this latest data comes as no surprise to the Victorian Council of Social Service, Melbourne Citymission or other community service organisations across the country. Research published this year as part of the Australia Fair campaign found one in 10 Australians struggle to make ends meet.

Across Australia, demand for housing services has become particularly acute. While much of the debate in this election has been about access to greenfield sites on the fringes of Australia's capital cities, simply releasing more land won't address the critical issue of homelessness — the rate of which has almost doubled across Australia over the past 20 years.

Nor will releasing more land increase the availability of beds in refuges and transitional housing.

In one recent two-week period, Melbourne Citymission had 360 young people seeking crisis accommodation, many of whom were escaping family violence or sexual abuse. Only 30 beds were available across Victoria. This is not unique to Victoria. Every day, community agencies across each state and territory come up against similar shortages.

This is unconscionable in a nation as prosperous as Australia, yet who on the national stage is offering a solution?

We know there are more points to be scored in debating the merits of the "worm", more fun to be had in analysing our leaders' respective choice of ties, but is there a chance that anyone soon is going to start talking about the future of the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement? How about the decimation of Commonwealth funding for the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program?

And what of the Australia Fair finding that one in 10 Australians struggle to pay for food, utilities and health care and often cannot access other essentials such as work, education, aged care, child care, counselling and legal services?

Across the nation, "everyday mums and dads" urgently need assistance. We're seeing the emergence of a new social class in Australia — the working poor — and accompanying phenomena, such as family homelessness.

We're also witness to families at breaking point, because they are unable to get access to support services such as respite care for their disabled child. And every week, we're overwhelmed by reports of parents and siblings at risk of physical harm because there is no support to help them manage children who have behavioural difficulties associated with an acquired brain injury. In 2005, unmet demand for disability accommodation and respite services across Australia was estimated at 23,800 people.

Welfare organisations are also hearing from families and singles struggling with the cost of health care, particularly dental health. An estimated 40 per cent of Australians are unable to afford dental care when they need it, and more than 500,000 are on waiting lists around the nation for general dental care from public dental services.

Even on measures such as unemployment — which is, officially, at a record low — we can see a schism between the bright picture painted by ABS data and the daily grind of life on the margins for our clients. Australians who have low levels of education, experience chronic ill-health, have insecure housing or live on a limited income.

For many of these people, life is a constant merry-go-round. A lack of joined-up programs and services (compounded by a "one size fits all" approach) means that people cycle through program after program, oscillating between welfare and work, with no sustainable pathway out of poverty.

At a time of unprecedented economic prosperity, these figures and stories are galling. Four weeks out from an election, Australians face important choices over the future fairness of their country.

Poverty, disadvantage and exclusion are not simple to explain or address, but this shouldn't prevent us from working to achieve a more inclusive approach.

It is time for all political parties to support national action, with targets to reduce poverty and disadvantage in areas such as health, education, welfare, housing, services, work and wages.

Twenty-two of the world's 30 OECD nations have approached the challenge of disadvantage by adopting action plans, involving cross-departmental work, targets and deadlines. It's time we followed suit.

All political parties should:

• Tackle the needs of disadvantaged Australians in their political and economic commitments to voters.
• Support greater investment in services to deliver benefits through social spending to all Australians.
• Endorse the creation of a national anti-poverty plan to reduce the causes and levels of poverty and disadvantage.
• Address specific needs for reform and funding for community services, health, housing, law and justice, indigenous disadvantage, work and welfare.

Now is the time for politicians to take a pledge to ensure a fair go for all Australians.