Tasmanian families are left out in the cold as Labor's cost of living crisis bites

A joint media release with
Senator Claire Chandler
Senator for Tasmania

10 July 2023

Labor has abandoned Tasmanians suffering from the cost of living crisis, leaving families to go hungry, according to evidence provided to the Senate Select Committee on the Cost of Living in Hobart today.

The Committee heard that more and more Tasmanians were being forced to seek help from charities as inflation pushes up grocery costs causing greater food insecurity amongst families. In some instances, parents are skipping meals just so they can continue to provide for their children.

Anglicare Tasmania told the Committee that with increasing energy prices and increasing energy prices, some vulnerable Tasmanians were having to make the choice between heating and eating. While the St Vincent de Paul Society told the Committee they were seeing a new demographic of people seeking assistance, with more employed people coming through their doors.

Representatives from Foodbank Tasmania said about 10.5 million meals were needed in Tasmania, and that their partner agencies were seeking more meals than it could currently provide.

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the Committee that according to their latest survey Tasmanian businesses did not feel confident in the direction of the national economy. The Chamber said its members were also concerned about Labor’s industrial relations changes, which would make it harder to do business.

Chair of the Cost of Living Committee, Senator Jane Hume said that Tasmanians were being left out in the cold by the Albanese Government during the cost of living crisis.

“Skyrocketing energy bills, housing costs and grocery prices is leaving families facing the sobering choice between heating and eating,” Senator Hume said.

“Tasmanian families are making really difficult decisions about their household budgets just to get by, it’s completely unacceptable that Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers have shown that they aren’t willing to make difficult decisions themselves.

“We know that high inflation is driving the cost of living crisis, but instead of coming up with a plan to lower inflation, Labor has spent an additional $187 billion which is only going to add fuel to an already out of control fire.

“The only way the Government can sustainably bring down the cost of living for all Australians, across all areas, is to get inflation down,” Senator Hume said.

Senator Chandler said the Hobart hearing enabled Tasmanian voices to address the impact of rising cost of living expenses in a local context.

“Evidence provided by witnesses today highlights the dire consequences of high inflation, with Tasmanian not-for-profit organisations saying more Tasmanians were seeking their assistance,” Senator Chandler said.

“Tasmanian families are doing it tough, and the Albanese Government needs to step up its response to alleviate cost of living pressures.

“Tasmanian small and medium sized businesses are also feeling the economic pain, with business owners having to deal with increased overheads essential to the operation and continued success of their business.

“Despite the Prime Minister promising multiple times that he would address economic pressures being felt around the country, under Labor the cost of living has only gone up.”