Perceptions of Poverty Research May, 2010 morga… · 3.1 Importance of taking action to reduce poverty in Australia More than half (53) of respondents said that taking action to

Perceptions of Poverty Research

May, 2010

- Prepared for -

The Salvation Army PO Box 479

Blackburn VIC 3139

- Prepared by -

Roy Morgan Research Level 1, 401 Collins Street

Melbourne VIC 3000

Job Name

Roy Morgan Research October, 2010

INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1

2. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 1

3. OUTLINE OF MAIN FINDINGS .................................................................................. 2

3.1 Importance of taking action to reduce poverty in Australia ......................................... 2

3.2 Attitudes toward people living in poverty / nature of poverty ..................................... 4

3.2.1 ‘Positive’ statements about poverty ...................................................................... 5

3.2.2 ‘Negative’ statements about poverty ..................................................................... 7

3.3 Attitudes toward level of welfare or Centrelink benefits paid ................................... 10

3.3.1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 10

3.3.2 Analysis of Responses ......................................................................................... 11

3.4 Main effects on families/individuals living in poverty............................................... 13

3.4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 13

3.4.2 Analysis of Responses – Response Codes .......................................................... 16

3.4.3 Analysis of Responses – Summary Codes .......................................................... 17

4. APPENDICES ................................................................................................................ 18

4.1 Effects of Poverty – Summary of Unclear/Off-Topic Responses .............................. 18

4.2 Copy of Questionnaire ................................................................................................ 19

Perceptions of Poverty – May 2010 Page 1


1. INTRODUCTION In May 2010, Roy Morgan Research was commissioned by the Salvation Army to conduct research into perceptions of poverty in the Australian community. In particular, to explore:

• Attitudes on the importance or otherwise of taking action to reduce poverty; • Attitudes toward people who are living in poverty, or the nature of poverty; • Perceptions of the adequacy of welfare or Centrelink benefits currently being

provided to different recipient groups in our society; and • Perceptions of the major effects that living in poverty has on individuals and

families.

2. METHODOLOGY On 12 and 13 May 2010, Roy Morgan Research interviewed by telephone a nationally representative sample of 669 Australians aged 14 and over. The survey was part of Roy Morgan Research’s telephone omnibus survey, CATIBus. The data were weighted to the Australian population aged 14 and over by age, sex and area. This report outlines the key findings of the survey. Provided separately were:

• A set of tables, with full demographic breakdown details; and

• A database of survey results (ASTEROID format.



3. OUTLINE OF MAIN FINDINGS

3.1 Importance of taking action to reduce poverty in Australia

More than half (53%) of respondents said that taking action to reduce poverty should be a very high priority. Only 6% of respondents saw taking action to reduce poverty as a low priority or not a priority at all. Chart 1: Importance of Taking Action to Reduce Poverty Q1. Not everyone has the same view on how big a problem poverty is in Australia, or on how important it is that we

should be trying to reduce poverty. In your opinion, do you think that taking action to reduce poverty in Australia

should be?

Base: All respondents n=669

53%

41%

5%

1% 1%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

A Very HighPriority

Important, But NotA High Priority

A Low Priority Not A Priority AtAll

Can't Say



Women (64%) were more likely than men (40%) to say that taking action to reduce poverty should be a very high priority. Men (8%) were more likely than women (3%) to say that taking action to reduce poverty should be a low priority.

Chart 2: Importance of Taking Action to Reduce Poverty – By Gender Q1. Not everyone has the same view on how big a problem poverty is in Australia, or on how important it is that we

should be trying to reduce poverty. In your opinion, do you think that taking action to reduce poverty in Australia

should be?

42%

49%

8%

0% 1%

64%

32%

1% 1%3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

A Very HighPriority

Important, ButNot A High

Priority

A Low Priority Not A PriorityAt All

Can't Say

MenWomen




3.2 Attitudes toward people living in poverty / nature of poverty

A series of seven statements about poverty were put to respondents, in randomised order.

• “I feel sorry for people who are living in poverty.”

• “People who are living in poverty have generally brought it upon themselves.”

• “In the long run, increasing welfare and other benefits actually increases poverty.”

• “Just about anyone can find themselves living in poverty – all it takes is some bad luck.”

• “There are plenty of opportunities in Australia – nobody needs to live in poverty.”

• “Not nearly enough has been done to reduce poverty in aboriginal or indigenous communities.”

• “Nobody who has a job can really claim to be living in poverty.” The response categories (read in reverse order to 50% of respondents so as to minimize any order effect), and the nominal value attributed to each category (to facilitate calculation of mean score) were as follows:

• Strongly Agree (5) • Agree (4) • Neither Agree Nor Disagree (3) • Disagree (2) • Strongly Disagree (1)

Mean scores should be interpreted as follows:

• A score above/below the midpoint (3) indicates that respondents on average agreed/disagreed with the statement

• The more the mean deviates from the midpoint, the stronger the agreement/disagreement with the statement

It is important to note that three statements were phrased in a ‘positive’ sense and four statements in the ‘negative’. As such, care should be taken when contrasting mean scores received by a positive and negative statement/s. That is, a high mean score in relation to a positive statement indicates a generally ‘sympathetic’ attitude toward the poverty-related issue. In contrast, a high mean score in relation to a ‘negative’ statement would indicate a generally ‘unsympathetic’ attitude toward the poverty-related issue.



3.2.1 ‘Positive’ statements about poverty

The statement that received the strongest and most consistent level of support was “I feel sorry for people living in poverty”. The most polarising statement (though still supported, on average – mean score 3.3) was “Not enough has been done to reduce poverty in aboriginal or indigenous communities” – 50% agreed or strongly agreed, while 35% disagreed or strongly disagreed. While women (25%) were more likely than men (18%) to strongly agree with the statement, there was virtually no difference between the genders in terms of total agreement with the statement or in their respective propensities to disagree or strongly agree. Chart 3: ‘Positive’ Statements About Poverty Q2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say

whether you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, or strongly disagree.


36%

18%22%

54%

47%

28%24%

12%

7%5%3%

28%

1%

7%4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Feel Sorry For PeopleIn Poverty

Anyone Can FindThemselves In Poverty

Not Enough Done ToReduce Indigenous

Poverty

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree norDisagreeDisagree

Strongly Disagree



Chart 4: ‘Positive’ Statements About Poverty – Mean Scores Q2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say



On average, women were more likely than men to agree with the statements “I feel sorry for people living in poverty” and “Anyone can find themselves living in poverty – all it takes is some bad luck.” Chart 5: ‘Positive’ Statements About Poverty – Mean Scores By Gender Q2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say



3.51 3.3

4.2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Feel Sorry For People InPoverty

Anyone Can Find ThemselvesIn Poverty

Not Enough Done To ReduceIndigenous Poverty

4.09

3.413.28

4.32

3.613.32

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Feel Sorry For People InPoverty

Anyone Can FindThemselves In Poverty

Not Enough Done ToReduce Indigenous Poverty

MenWomen



3.2.2 ‘Negative’ statements about poverty

The statements with the highest degree of support overall (though with mean scores close to neutral – indicating a high degree of polarisation) were “In the long run, increasing welfare and other benefits actually increases poverty “ and “There are lots of opportunities in Australia – nobody needs to live in poverty”. For both of these statements men were more likely to agree, and women to disagree, though the relative proportions of those strongly agreeing, strongly disagreeing or neutral were close to identical (refer charts 7 & 8 overleaf). On average, respondents expressed disagreement with the other two ‘negative’ statements about poverty. Chart 6: ‘Negative’ Statements About Poverty Q2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say



8%

31% 32%

24%

50%

34%36%

52%

3%

12%

4%

14% 12%16%

10%8%

21%

7% 8%11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Generally BroughtPoverty UponThemselves

IncreasingWelfare/ BenefitsIncreases Poverty

Nobody Needs ToLive In Poverty

Nobody With JobReally Living In

Poverty

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree norDisagreeDisagree

Strongly Disagree



Charts 7 & 8: ‘Negative’ Statements About Poverty Q2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say


Bases: All respondents n=669

"Nobody needs to live in poverty" - by gender

12%

36%

9%

33%

8%

12%

28%

39%

8%

12%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Strongly Agree Agree Neither AgreeNor Disagree

Disagree StronglyDisagree

MenWomen

"Increasing welfare/benefits increases poverty" - by gender

34%

16%

32%

15%

36%

7%8%7% 8%

28%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Strongly Agree Agree Neither AgreeNor Disagree

Disagree StronglyDisagree

MenWomen



Chart 9: ‘Negative’ Statements About Poverty – Mean Scores Q2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say


2.98 3.04

2.562.27

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5


Increasing Welfare/Benefits Increases

Poverty

Nobody Needs To LiveIn Poverty


Poverty


Women were less likely than men to agree with any of the ‘negative’ statements, with the greatest difference (on average) in response by gender in relation to the statement “People living in poverty have generally brought it upon themselves.” Chart 10: ‘Negative’ Statements About Poverty – Mean Scores by Gender Q2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say



2.46

3.02 3.12

2.62

2.09

2.94 2.96

2.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5


Increasing Welfare/Benefits Increases

Poverty

Nobody Needs ToLive In Poverty


Poverty

MenWomen



3.3 Attitudes toward level of welfare or Centrelink benefits paid

3.3.1 Overview

Respondents were asked to nominate the degree to which they believed the level of welfare/Centrelink benefits paid to each of five recipient groups should be varied. The recipient groups were:

• Unemployed • Sole Parents • Students • Aged pensioners • Disability Support pensioner

The response categories (read in reverse order to 50% of respondents), and the nominal value attributed to each category (to facilitate calculation of mean score) were as follows:

• Increase a lot (5) • Increase a bit (4) • Stay the same (3) • Decrease a bit (2) • Decrease a lot (1)

Mean scores should be interpreted as follows:

• A score above/below the midpoint (3) indicates that respondents on average supported an increase/decrease in the level of benefits paid to the relevant recipient group

• The more the mean deviates from the midpoint, the stronger the belief that the benefit level should increase/decrease.



3.3.2 Analysis of Responses

On average, there was support for increasing the current benefit level of all recipient groups – i.e. all mean scores above 3. The degree of support, however, varied between the recipient groups:

• Disability Support and Aged Pensioners received the greatest level of support for an increase / lowest level of support for a decrease in benefits, with close to identical results across all response categories

• The level of support for an increase in benefits for the remaining recipient groups then decreased reasonably consistently in the following order:

o Students (mean score 3.69) o Sole Parents (3.43) o Unemployed (3.16)

• As the level of support for each of these three groups declined, the proportion of respondents favouring a decrease in benefits paid to that group increased. However, in each case, the number of ‘Stay the Same’ responses also increased at close to or more than the same rate.

Chart 11: Attitudes Toward Level of Benefits Paid Q3: Thinking of the level of welfare or Centrelink benefits provided to various groups in Australia, please say for

each one whether you think the current level should:


7%

10%

17%

33%

35%

24%

32%

38%

44%

41%

46%

42%

33%

19%

16%

12%

6%

5%

1%

1%

6%

1%

0%

1%

3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Unemployed

Sole Parents

Students

Aged Pensioners

Disability SupportPensioners

Increase A LotIncrease A BitStay The SameDecrease A Bit Decrease A Lot



Across all recipient groups, males were marginally less likely than females to support an increase in benefits. Chart 12: Attitudes Toward Level of Benefits Paid – By Gender Q3: Thinking of the level of welfare or Centrelink benefits provided to various groups in Australia, please say for

each one whether you think the current level should:


Perhaps unsurprisingly, the strongest support for increasing student benefits was recorded among 18-24 year olds (mean score 3.91). The strongest support increasing Aged Pension benefits was recorded among those 50-64 (mean score 4.35), but support among those aged 65+ was actually lower than that recorded among the 25-34 and 35-49 age groups.

3.113.41

3.61

4.07 4.11

3.23.44

3.77

4.14 4.2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Unemployed Sole Parents Students AgedPensioners

DisabilitySupport

Pensioners

MenWomen



3.4 Main effects on families/individuals living in poverty

3.4.1 Overview

Respondents were asked to nominate the main effects on families or individuals living in poverty in Australia. In contrast to previous questions in the survey, this question was asked in unprompted

fashion- i.e. potential response codes were not read out.

In order to aid analysis, a set of summary codes were formulated during the data analysis phase. These summary codes grouped the various response codes into like categories. according to the following key rules:

• Unique responses only – i.e. no ‘double counting’ in instances where a respondent had mentioned two or more issues that were later brought together in a summary code; and

• Statistical separation maintained between ‘Effect’, ‘Cause or Effect’ and ‘Cause/Off Topic’ responses (see below).

As often occurs with open/unprompted survey questions, some respondents provided answers that were unclear or not directly relevant to the issue being examined. In this survey:

• Approximately 14% of respondents made a statement that was unclear as to whether they were discussing a cause or an effect (e.g. “Limited job opportunities” or similar)

• Approximately 13% of respondents made a statement that was clearly ‘off-topic. The vast majority of these cases involved nomination of an issue that was a cause

of poverty, rather than an effect (e.g. “the rising cost of living” or similar). In the remaining instances, respondents made a statement that was simply irrelevant to the question asked (e.g. “They should just get a job” or similar).

In the body of this report we present findings related to codes/summary codes that clearly represented an ‘effect’ of poverty – i.e. responses that reflected the intent of the survey question. Responses that indicated a misunderstanding or ignoring of the intent of the question are presented in Appendix 1 For reporting purposes we have amalgamated the codes ‘Can’t Say’ and ‘No Impact’, as discussions with the interviewing team indicated that the latter code was almost exclusively used as a proxy for ‘Can’t Say’. Interviewers were only able to recall one instance of a respondent stating that there was literally ‘no impact’ on people living in poverty.



The tables below and overleaf illustrate the response codes relating to the survey, including the manner in which summary codes were formed from the original codes. Effect Nominated by Respondent

Code Summary Code – Level 1

Summary Code – Level 2

• Hungry/ not enough food • Poor diet/ low quality food

Inadequate Food TOTAL -

NOMINATED AN

EFFECT • Homelessness/ nowhere to live • Have to live in sub-standard housing

Inadequate Housing

• Can't afford dental care • Can't afford medical care • Health/ health problems

Poor Health

• Can't afford school excursions, books, uniforms etc.

• Can't afford other items for children - clothes, toys, games etc.

• Can't afford holidays/ other leisure etc. • Have to use public transport/can’t afford a car,

registration, insurance etc. • Lack of money for the basic necessities/ food/

clothing etc/ low standard of living

Can’t Afford Other Living Expenses

• Can't pay heating bills/ can't afford to heat their houses

• Can't pay other utility bills - water, telephone, gas, electricity etc.

• Can't pay council rates

Can’t Afford Occupancy Costs

• Causes families to break apart/ causes family stress • Causes individuals to be stressed/ depressed

Family/Individual Pressure

• Crime/ criminal behaviour/ poverty drives people to crime

• Increase in anti social behaviour/ social decay • Violence/ domestic violence/ abuse/ more likely to

be victims of crime

Social Problems

• Social stigma/ lack of social acceptance • Isolation from society/ social isolation/ withdrawal/

marginalisation • Continues the cycle of poverty/ difficult to get out

of the cycle of poverty/ generational poverty (unspec)

Social Exclusion

• Have to rent rather than buy a home • Lower quality of life • Other

Other / Unclassifiable

• Can't say • No impact

TOTAL – CAN’T SAY / NO IMPACT STATED



Cause or Effect Nominated (Intent Unclear) Code Summary Code

– Level 1 Summary Code

– Level 2 • Alcohol abuse/ gambling/ drug addiction Social Problems (Unclear) TOTAL –

INTENT UNCLEAR

• Lack of access to education/ less education opportunities

• Lack of education/ education (unspec)

Education (Unclear)

• Limited job opportunities/ lack of employment opportunities

• Lack of opportunities/ limited opportunities (unspec)

Opportunities (Unclear)

Cause (or other off-topic response) Nominated by Respondent Code Summary Code

– Level 1 Summary Code

– Level 2 • The cost of rent/ housing • Cost of living/ rising cost of living/ inflation • Unemployment • Low standard of education/ bad education (cause

inferred) • Financial mismanagement/ poor budgeting skills • Spending their money on the wrong things

(alcohol/ cigarettes/ entertainment/ drugs/ lotto) • Lack of support services/ adequate support

services/ adequate benefits • They should look after themselves/ get a job/ it is

their fault that they are poor

TOTAL – OFF TOPIC RESPONSE



3.4.2 Analysis of Responses – Response Codes

The effect mentioned most often by respondents was “Causes individuals to be stressed/depressed (25.4%), with only six other response codes receiving more than a 10% response rate:

• Homelessness/nowhere to live (16.9%) • Hungry/not enough food (16.9%) • Can’t afford medical care (14.1%) • Causes families to break apart/causes family stress (13.2%) • Can’t afford school excursions, books, uniforms etc. (11.3%) • Poor diet / low quality food (10.2%)

Table 1: Q4. Thinking about the current situation, what do you think are the main effects on individuals and families living in poverty in Australia? What other effects? Anything more?

Perceived effects on individuals or families living in poverty

Response Code (Effect)

%

Response Causes Individuals To Be Stressed/ Depressed 25.4% Homelessness/ Nowhere To Live 16.9% Hungry/ Not Enough Food 14.9% Can't Afford Medical Care 14.1% Causes Families To Break Apart/ Causes Family Stress 13.2% Can't Afford School Excursions, Books, Uniforms Etc. 11.3% Poor Diet/ Low Quality Food 10.2% Have To Live In Sub-Standard Housing 8.7% Can't Pay Other Utility Bills - Water, Telephone, Gas, Electricity Etc. 7.9% Can't Afford Other Items For Children - Clothes, Toys, Games Etc. 7.8% Have To Rent Rather Than Buy A Home 5.9% Continues The Cycle Of Poverty/ Difficult To Get Out Of The Cycle Of Poverty/ Generational Poverty (Unspec) 5.4% Health/ Health Problems 4.5% Can't Pay Heating Bills/ Can't Afford To Heat Their Houses 4.4% Isolation From Society/ Social Isolation/ Withdrawal/ Marginalisation 3.5% Can't Afford Dental Care 3.3% Crime/ Criminal Behaviour/ Poverty Drives People To Crime 2.7% Have To Use Public Transport/ Can't Afford A Car, Registration, Insurance Etc 2.5% Can't Afford Holidays/ Other Leisure Etc. 1.8% Lack Of Money For The Basic Necessities/ Food/ Clothing Etc/ Low Standard Of Living 1.8% Can't Pay Council Rates 1.6% Social Stigma/ Lack Of Social Acceptance 1.3% Violence/ Domestic Violence/ Abuse/ More Likely To Be Victims Of Crime 1.0% Increase In Anti Social Behaviour/ Social Decay 0.9% Lower Quality Of Life 0.7% Other 8.5% Can't Say / No Impact 14.4%

Base: All Respondents n=669



3.4.3 Analysis of Responses – Summary Codes

Overall, 76.5% of respondents nominated at least one issue that was clearly an effect upon people living in poverty (i.e. excludes nominating a cause of poverty, or an unclear/irrelevant response). The table below illustrates these responses grouped into the summary codes outlined in Section 3.4.1 above.

Table 2: Q4. Thinking about the current situation, what do you think are the main effects on individuals and families living in poverty in Australia? What other effects? Anything more?

Perceived effects on individuals or families living in poverty (Summary)

Summary Response Code (Effect)

%

Response TOTAL - FAMILY/INDIVIDUAL PRESSURE 30.6% TOTAL - INADEQUATE HOUSING 22.8% TOTAL - INADEQUATE FOOD 21.8% TOTAL - POOR HEALTH 18.8% TOTAL - UNABLE TO AFFORD OTHER LIVING EXPENSES 17.9% TOTAL - OTHER/UNCLASSIFIABLE 14.3% TOTAL - UNABLE TO AFFORD OCCUPANCY COSTS 10.7% TOTAL - SOCIAL EXCLUSION 9.5% TOTAL - SOCIAL PROBLEMS 4.1% TOTAL CAN’T SAY/NO IMPACT STATED 14.4%




4. APPENDICES

4.1 Effects of Poverty – Summary of Unclear/Off-Topic Responses

Cause or Effect Nominated (Intent Unclear) Table 1a: Q4. Thinking about the current situation, what do you think are the main effects on individuals and families living in poverty in Australia? What other effects? Anything more?


Response Code (Cause or Effect – Unclear)

% Response

Alcohol Abuse/ Gambling/ Drug Addiction 4.7% Lack Of Access To Education/ Less Education Opportunities 3.7% Lack Of Education/ Education (Unspec) 2.9% Limited Job Opportunities/ Lack Of Employment Opportunities 2.0% Lack Of Opportunities/ Limited Opportunities (Unspec) 1.7%


Cause Nominated (or other off topic response) Table 1b: Q4. Thinking about the current situation, what do you think are the main effects on individuals and families living in poverty in Australia? What other effects? Anything more?


Response Code (Cause/Off Topic)

% Response

Unemployment 4.1% Cost Of Living/ Rising Cost Of Living/ Inflation 2.8% They Should Look After Themselves/ Get A Job/ It Is Their Fault That They Are Poor 2.1% Lack Of Support Services/ Adequate Support Services/ Adequate Benefits 1.8% Low Standard Of Education/ Bad Education (Cause Inferred) 1.4% Financial Mismanagement/ Poor Budgeting Skills 0.9% The Cost Of Rent/ Housing 0.8% Spending Their Money On The Wrong Things (Alcohol/ Cigarettes/ Entertainment/ Drugs/ Lotto) 0.6%




4.2 Copy of Questionnaire

I would now like to ask you some questions on the subject of poverty in Australia.

Q1 Not everyone has the same view on how big a problem poverty is in Australia, or on how important it is that we should be trying to reduce poverty. In your opinion, do you think that taking action to reduce poverty in Australia should be

(FLIP ORDER ON 50%):

READ OUT

o A very high priority

o Important, but not a high priority

o A low priority

o Not a priority at all

o CAN’T SAY

Q2 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about poverty in Australia? For each statement, please say whether you:

(FLIP ORDER ON 50%)

o Strongly Agree

o Agree

o Neither agree nor disagree

o Disagree

o Strongly Disagree

o CAN’T SAY

RANDOMISE

READ OUT

2.1 I feel sorry for people who are living in poverty

2.2 People who are living in poverty have generally brought it upon themselves



2.3 In the long run, increasing welfare and other benefits actually increases poverty

2.4 Just about anyone can find themselves living in poverty – all it takes is some bad luck

2.5 There are plenty of opportunities in Australia – nobody needs to live in poverty

2.6 Not nearly enough has been done to reduce poverty in aboriginal or indigenous communities

2.7 Nobody who has a job can really claim to be living in poverty

Q3 Thinking of the level of welfare or Centrelink benefits provided to various groups in Australia, please say for each one whether you think the current level should

(FLIP ORDER ON 50%):

o Increase a lot

o Increase a bit

o Stay the same

o Decrease a bit

o Decrease a lot

o CAN’T SAY

RANDOMISE

READ OUT

3.1 Unemployed receiving benefits

3.2 Sole parents receiving benefits



3.3 Students receiving benefits, such as Austudy.

3.4 Aged pensioners

3.5 Disability support pensioners

Q4 Thinking about the current situation, what do you think are the main effects on individuals and families living in poverty in Australia? What other effects? Anything more?

DO NOT READ

MULTIPLE

o Hungry / not enough food

o Poor diet / low quality food

o Homelessness / nowhere to live

o Have to live in sub-standard housing

o Have to rent rather than buy a home

o Can’t afford dental care

o Can’t afford medical care

o Can’t afford school excursions, books, uniforms etc.

o Can’t afford other items for children – clothes, toys, games etc.

o Can’t afford holidays / other leisure etc.

o Have to use public transport / can’t afford a car, registration, insurance etc

o Can’t pay heating bills / can’t afford to heat their houses

o Can’t pay other utility bills – water, telephone, gas, electricity etc.

o Can’t pay council rates

o Causes families to break apart / causes family stress

o Causes individuals to be stressed/depressed

o No impact

o Other (specify)

Documents

Perceptions of Poverty Research May, 2010 morga… · 3.1 Importance of taking action to reduce poverty in Australia More than half (53) of respondents said that taking action to