Cost-of-living crisis needs immediate substantial action
As everyday Australians struggle to make ends meet, it's clear that our government must take decisive action to address the escalating cost of living crisis that is squeezing households across the nation.
From Sydney to Perth, families are making impossible choices between paying rent, buying groceries, or covering essential services.
Housing costs have skyrocketed, with rental prices increasing significantly in many cities while wages have failed to keep pace.
The weekly grocery shop that once cost $150 now stretches to $200 or more, forcing many to choose between nutritious food and other necessities.
Energy bills continue to climb despite promises of relief, and the cost of childcare remains prohibitive for many working families.
Young Australians face the daunting reality that homeownership may be forever out of reach, while retirees on fixed incomes watch their purchasing power erode month by month.
The government's current measures, while welcome, are insufficient to address the scale of this crisis.
We need comprehensive reform that includes:
1. Immediate rent relief measures and increased social housing construction to ease the housing shortage that's driving up costs for everyone, helping to stabilize the rental market and provide affordable options for low-income families.
2. A genuine review of energy market regulation to ensure fair pricing and increased investment in renewable energy infrastructure, which will reduce long-term costs while supporting environmental sustainability goals.
3. Substantial childcare subsidies to help working families manage expenses and boost workforce participation, enabling more parents to enter or remain in the workforce while ensuring quality care for children.
4. Tax reform addressing negative gearing and capital gains concessions that currently inflate property prices, creating a more equitable system that doesn't disadvantage first-time buyers and renters.
This isn't about political ideology.
It's about ensuring that hard-working Australians can afford the basic necessities of life in one of the world's wealthiest nations.
The longer we delay meaningful action, the deeper this crisis becomes and the more difficult it will be to resolve.
Our elected representatives must remember that their primary duty is to serve the people who put them in office.
The cost of living crisis isn't a future problem.
It's happening now, and it demands immediate, substantial action.
The Australian people deserve better than empty promises and incremental measures.
We need bold leadership and comprehensive solutions that address the root causes of this crisis, not just its symptoms.
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SOURCE:.
Email, 1 Aug 2025.
Mitchell Gordon, Gosford