Independent Indi candidate Helen Haines says people should not have to choose between putting dinner on the table and turning the heating on, announcing she would push for a $75 increase to Newstart.
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Dr Haines visited Benalla yesterday to make the announcement, saying she listened to "a growing chorus of organisations" telling her the payment was too low.
"We all know the cost of living is rising, but in real terms Newstart hasn't risen in over 25 years," she said.
"Newstart is meant to be a transitional payment for those in difficult times between jobs, but with the rate of payment so low, people are instead falling into poverty.
"How is someone supposed to find work if they don't have a roof over their head of can't afford to buy clothes for a job interview?"
Newstart is about 40 per cent of the minimum wage at $39.30 per day and is used by 6.6 per cent of people in regional areas, compared to 4.9 per cent in the major cities.
Dr Haines said Deloitte Access Economics modelling showed a $75 increase would inject $4 billion into the Australian economy in the first year.
"Those few extra dollars that go to Newstart recipients then get spent in our communities, which in turn supports small businesses and jobs," she said.
Labor candidate Eric Kerr put pressure on Dr Haines about issues like penalty rates, but she turned it back on the major parties.
"Everyone from the Business Council of Australia to the Australian Council on Social Service agrees that Newstart needs to be raised - the only ones holding out at the Liberal, Labor and National Parties," she said.
"I just don't accept that when people lose their jobs or fall on hard times they then should have to start making choices between whether to put dinner on the table or turn the heating on."
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