Holiday Hardship

This holiday season the cost of living crisis has been effecting us all.

Warehouse workers have been forced to go on strike against inhumane working conditions and pay that isn’t keeping up with inflation. This has left companies like Woolworths and Dan Murphy’s with empty shelves. Despite the supermarket duopoly Coles and Woolworths continuing to rake in profits. Earnings they bring in by overcharging customers during the holiday season.

Australia’s airline duopoly Virgin and QANTAS are jacking up the price of flights in December to almost double the usual airfare rate. This is making it unaffordable for many to visit their families over the festive season.

Many Victorians have been forced to cut back, not just on discretionary holiday spending but also on everyday essentials.

Almost 70% of Australians have had to reduce their spending due to pressures of the cost of living crisis. Young people and young families are the most likely to have to minimise spending or forgo travel plans.

Parents are having to make the tough spending and budgetary choices. They are constantly choosing between family dinners and presents for their children, or putting the air-con on during heatwaves.

Others have been forced to take less time off or even take on extra work over the holiday period, just to stay afloat.

This used to be a time of the year when families would gather together, take a well-deserved break, and enjoy the summer festivities. How much you earn shouldn’t determine weather you are able to celebrate and relax with your loved ones.

But now, because of the continual failure of governments to address this cost of living crisis, holidays are becoming a luxury for only the rich to enjoy.

This crisis has been escalating for years, despite The Greens putting forward solution after solution. Solutions like price caps on essential items, raising welfare rates and capping rents.

Poverty is a political choice, made year after year by both of the old major parties. This crisis is ridiculous, cruel, oppressive and wholly preventable.