1/ Australian retirees who rent are being left behind. Two in three who rent in the private market live in poverty. Here’s why Rent Assistance needs to rise. 🧵#auspol

Two-thirds of retirees who rent in the private market live in poverty, including more than three in four single women who live alone. The government should boost Rent Assistance to help ensure struggling retirees get a dignified retirement. #auspol

RT @SBSNews: Two in three retirees who rent in the private market live in poverty and half of older renters have less than $25,000 in savin…

11/ Boosting Rent Assistance can ensure that all Australians get the dignified retirement they deserve. Our report by @BrendanCoates @mattdbowes and @joeybmoloney:

7/ This would ensure single retirees could afford to spend $350 a week on rent – enough to rent the cheapest 25% of one-bedroom homes across Aus capital cities. And retired couples could afford to spend $390 a week, enough to rent the cheapest 25% of all one- or two-br homes.

6/ The government should increase the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by a further 50% for singles and 40% for couples. Rent Assistance should also be indexed to increases in rents for the cheapest 25% of rental homes in capital cities, rather than to inflation.

5/ And the rents paid by people who get Rent Assistance have increased nearly 1.5x faster than the maximum rate of the payment since 2001.

4/ Rent Assistance is far too low. The government has lifted the maximum rate by 27% in the past two budgets. But a single retiree who relies solely on income support can still afford to rent just 11% of 1-bedroom homes in capital cities, while paying for other essentials.

3/ Most older working Australians who rent do not have sufficient savings to keep paying rent in retirement. The poorest 40% of renting households aged 55-64 have less than $40,000 in net financial wealth.

2/ Home ownership is falling fast among poorer Australians who are approaching retirement. Between 1981 and 2021, home ownership rates among the poorest 40% of 45-54 year-olds fell from 68% to just 54%.

Two in three retirees who rent in the private market live in poverty. And it’s only going to get worse. Our new report by @BrendanCoates @mattdbowes and @joeybmoloney shows what the government should do. #auspol

RT @BrendanCoates: 3 weeks ago we released our Simpler Super report. Today former departmental secretary Andrew Podger writes: "The prio…

Some parts of Australia are ‘GP deserts’ – they have too few GPs to ensure everyone can get the care they need when they need it. These communities are often sicker and poorer yet often have to pay higher fees. In this podcast, Kat Clay talks to Grattan’s health policy experts Peter Breadon and Wendy Hu about why GP deserts exist – and what the government should do to eliminate them. Listen, watch, or read on your favourite channels Website with transcript: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: YouTube: #auspol #healthcare #doctors

New Grattan research reveals that half a million Australians live in ‘GP deserts’. Reform is needed so healthcare funding follows communities, not clinicians. Analysis in today's @westaustralian by our Health team, led by @PeterBreadon #auspol

Who’s donating to whom? 🧐 Political donations data are out now. But there’s a catch: voters are finding out too late. Here’s what needs to change. #auspol

Many Australians find the superannuation system too complex and worry about outliving their savings. But a simple lifetime annuity, which guarantees people regular payments for life, would offer a more comfortable and stress-free retirement. Here's how:

How annuities could help solve Australia’s retirement woes By @BrendanCoates and @joeybmoloney in today's @australian Note that under our proposal, no-one would be forced to take out an annuity. #auspol #superannuation