Queensland household incomes are struggling to keep up with the rises in living expenses, an annual poverty survey has found.

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) released its annual statement on poverty on Sunday for the state launch of Anti-Poverty Week.

QCOSS president Karyn Walsh said rising costs of living were a key issue for people both in, and at risk, of poverty.


"Over the last year we have seen electricity, fuel, health services, education, child care and rent all rise by above the CPI," she said.

"We acknowledge the increase in some government rebates to cover part of these rises.

"However, many peoples household incomes and benefits have not risen enough to match these price rises."

The annual statement found that fuel poverty was beginning to disadvantage Queenslanders as people found it increasingly difficult to afford the energy to run their homes.

"Fuel poverty is mostly a problem for people in colder climates," she said.

"But it will soon be a reality here with home energy costs set to rise by more than 60 per cent."

The statement also found there were unfair barriers to employment and better pathways to a person's desired line of work were needed to fit individual circumstances.

QCOSS says an estimated 413,000 people are living in poverty in Queensland, representing 10.6 per cent of the population.

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I dunno. Around this area I've been pretty shocked at how a lot of people live. The amount of people who live in caravans or sheds and have done so for years is amazing. They might be paying off the block of land theyre on, but geez....

So on the flip side of that, 98% of Queenslander's don't live in poverty?

All the same I'd rather be dirt poor and live in SEQ than Sydney.

qikvtec wrote on Oct 17^th, 2010 at 8:18pm:


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Does anyone know where Queensland keeps all these people who 'live in poverty'? Why don't they just go on the dole? I get more than enough handouts from the government, and I don't consider myself poor.

freediver wrote on Oct 17^th, 2010 at 9:16pm:


What's the population of Woodridge?

freediver wrote on Oct 17^th, 2010 at 9:33pm:


They're not all poor.  Woodridge has some very large tracts of private property, but there is a reason migratory birds fly inverted over that hole.

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I'm the other way. Give me Sydney any day - but not dirt poor in Sydney, because that would just suck.

freediver wrote on Oct 17^th, 2010 at 6:59pm:



I don't think poverty has anything to do with tv sets, more likely how many times each week they go without a meal, or maybe even what they have as a meal.

Is living in a caravan classed as homeless? living in a tent surely would be.

Poverty would be a single person depending on dole payments if they had to pay full rent. Actually, in most cases the dole wouldn't even cover the rent.

I would much rather live in the country if I was poverty-stricken. There is always an abundance of fruit/veg crops ready for the picking, and the people seem friendlier (not the farmers if they catch you nicking their veges though).