Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, who tell me that, according to a recent survey, cost of living is the leading concern amongst Australians aged 16 to 25, with one young person saying: 'I am unable to attend appointments due to how expensive they've been lately. My mental health has never been worse, yet I am still unable to get help because of these prices.' It's shameful that in Australia, one of the richest countries in the world, it is unaffordable for young people to get the help they need, that young people are struggling with high rents making it extremely difficult to find a place to live. On top of that they are struggling to pay back HECS-HELP debts that are increasing due to high inflation, leaving them avoiding visits to the doctor because it's just too expensive. Addressing cost-of-living pressures faced by young people needs to be an urgent priority for the government. This can be achieved by supporting young people to find secure employment, raising youth allowances so that people aren't living below the poverty line, addressing the rental crisis and ensuring everyone can afford to visit the doctor whenever they need to. Put simply: more, much more, must be done to promote the wellbeing and future of our young people.