SENATOR DEAN SMITH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE SHADOW TREASURER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE COST OF LIVING
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
20 March 2026
LABOR CALLED ON TO ADDRESS COST OF LIVING CRISIS IN NEW REPORT
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has highlighted the “human stories of struggle” behind the Albanese Government’s cost of living crisis, urging the Albanese Government to “listen and act”.
The organisation’s Social Justice Statement, The Cost of Our Living: Economic and Social Justice for the Common Good, outlines the financial strain being experienced by households as rising prices outpace incomes.
Evidence cited in the report reveals more than 70 per cent of Australians say the cost of goods and services has risen faster than their earnings.
Food insecurity is increasing, with more than one in three Australian households having difficulty accessing sufficient food in 2025, forcing many families to skip meals or rely on emergency food relief.
The report notes that housing pressures remain another major contributor, with more than 1.2 million low-income households spending over 30 per cent of their income on housing costs.
Also addressed are the severe, unique pressures facing regional and remote communities, where basic food costs can be more than double those in capital cities.
Unsurprisingly, this is also affecting wellbeing, with nearly half of those living in financial stress reporting worsening mental health.
The statement emphasises the vital role of community organisations in supporting Australians through the crisis, noting that Catholic social service organisations assist around 700,000 people each year, while the St Vincent de Paul Society provides about $50 million in emergency relief annually.
Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith:
“The Social Justice Statement is a powerful reminder that there are very real human consequences behind the statistics – and behind Labor’s cost of living crisis.”
“It is unacceptable that, in a country as prosperous as Australia, households are skipping meals or unable to keep a roof over their heads because they simply cannot afford it.”
“In large part, this is a result of the Albanese Government’s economic mismanagement, which has seen inflation and interest rates stay higher for longer.”
“The Statement is one of a number of recent reports that confirm frontline organisations are facing unprecedented demand supporting struggling Australians.”
“Charities across the country are raising the same alarm – the cost-of-living crisis is having serious effects across our communities and Labor must take urgent action to ease the pressure on them.”
