SENATOR DEAN SMITH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE SHADOW TREASURER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE COST OF LIVING
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
23 March 2026
COMMUNITY SECTOR REPORT CONFIRMS COST-OF-LIVING PRESSURES HITTING HOUSEHOLDS
A new report published by the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) has confirmed that cost-of-living pressures are driving a sharp rise in demand for community support services under the Albanese Government.
The QCOSS State of the Sector 2025 report found 81 per cent of services experienced increased demand in the past year, while only 9 per cent said they are always able to meet demand.
Housing pressures are a key driver.
The report notes some households are spending up to 49 per cent – almost half – of their income on rent, while more than 31,000 households remain on the social housing waiting list, with rental vacancy rates sitting around one per cent.
Confirming the toll of Labor’s cost of living crisis, community organisations report that Australians who previously did not require assistance are now seeking it as the price of essentials continues to rise.
At the same time, the report found 80 per cent of organisations say government funding does not cover the full cost of service delivery, placing increasing pressure on frontline services.
Unsurprisingly, the workforce is also under strain, with 46 per cent of staff reporting pressure due to understaffing and 44 per cent reporting emotional exhaustion.
These findings, as has been the case with a number of recent reports, confirm the significant pressures cost of living increases are placing on households and the community sector on the Albanese Government’s watch – both across Queensland and nationally.
Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith
“Frontline organisations are telling us demand is rising rapidly while their capacity to respond is stretched – this is a common story from organisations and a direct result of Labor’s inability to manage the economy and inflation.”
“The QCOSS report shows only nine per cent of services say they can always meet demand, while more than eighty per cent are seeing demand increase.”
“When eighty per cent of organisations advise funding does not cover the cost of delivering services, it is clear the sector is under enormous strain.”
“These figures show the cost of living crisis is not only affecting households under the Albanese Government – it is placing growing pressure on the organisations working so hard to support them.”