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The number of people living in poverty in Australia has increased to 1 in 7, according to a new report released today – at the start of Anti-Poverty Week.

As many as 14.2% of the population – or 3.7 million Australians – were living below the poverty line in 2022–23, according to the report released today.

The report, from the (ACOSS) and ���������¼� Sydney-led , uses the latest available data from the .

These latest data mark an increase from 12.4% of the population – or 1 in 8 people – living below the poverty line in 2020–21.

The study also found the poverty rate for children is 1 in 6, equalling 757,000 children.

“This research shows that 1 in 7 people are now living in poverty. This is unacceptable in one of the wealthiest countries in the world,” says Dr Yuvisthi Naidoo, Senior Research Fellow at ���������¼�’s Social Policy Research Centre.

“The rate of people living in poverty decreased in 2020 due to the temporary doubling of JobSeeker during COVID,” Dr Naidoo says.

“But that has sharply risen above pre-pandemic levels due to the removal of COVID payments and rising housing costs,” she says.

“The steep increase in rents in recent years has had a particularly severe impact on people with the lowest incomes.”

The report found from June 2021 to June 2023, the median advertised rent for units rose from $486 per week to $680 in Sydney (40%), from $395 to $528 in Melbourne (34%) and from $394 to $554 in Brisbane (41%).

The proportion of low-income renters (the lowest 20% of earners) spending more than 30% of their income on rent – known as rental stress – increased from 52% in 2020–21 to 57% in 2022–23.

���������¼� Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs says the numbers are a stark reminder that poverty remains one of Australia’s most pressing challenges.

“This report is sobering but it also strengthens our resolve to drive our strategic aspiration, through our teaching and innovation, to deliver benefits and improvements for all individuals, across every part of society," Prof. Brungs says. 

“Even our work on improving productivity tackles the broader challenge of ensuring that prosperity is shared by everyone, not just a few.”