Anglicare Australia has released their 2025 Cost of Living Index which considers the current financial outlook for minimum wage earning households.
The report confirms that the energy debt crisis is worsening and that urgent action is needed.
Findings from the report include the following:
- A full-time minimum wage worker has just $33 left after paying for rent, food and transport
- A single parent on the minimum wage has just $1 left, even with government assistance
- A family with two full-time workers and two children has only $5 remaining each week
“The results of this year’s Cost of Living Index are bleak. After paying for the basics, minimum wage workers are left with almost nothing. In many cases, there’s no money left for energy bills at all,” said Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“We’re seeing more people trapped in energy debt. They are skipping meals, going without heating, and falling behind on bills they’ll never be able to repay. Over 330,000 people are struggling to pay back more than $300 million in energy debt – and the number of people with debts over $3,000 is surging.”
Click here for the FULL REPORT.
Media coverage of the 2025 Cost of Living Index:
‘Bleak’: The $33 problem that’s pushing some Australians ‘to the brink’ – SBS
Aussies on minimum wage left with $33 after rent, food and transport, Anglicare finds – News.com.au
Australia news live: Anglicare calls for urgent action on energy debt; banks predict rate cuts in July – The Guardian
Single parents on minimum wage left with just $1 for energy bills after paying for expenses – The West Australian
Anglicare report finds thousands of Australians getting trapped by bills – MSN
