SA: Report shows SA the poorest state

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2001
SA: Report shows SA the poorest state

ADELAIDE, April 23 AAP - South Australia is the poorest state in the nation with almost
25 per cent of households living below the poverty line, a new survey has shown.

Due to be released later today, the study by the University of SA and the South Australian
Council of Social Services (SACOSS) reveals SA has the lowest mean income of all states
at $25,029.

It shows 23.3 per cent of all SA households survive on incomes below the poverty line,
compared to 17.9 per cent nationally.

The report is based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data and information from focus groups.

Chief investigator, Associate Professor Ed Carson said it also showed that while rural
and regional areas were often regarded as doing it tougher than the city, this was not
necessarily the case.

"There are clusters of serious disadvantage in both metropolitan and rural areas," he said.

SACOSS executive director Pam Simmons said the report also revealed that poverty rates
had more than doubled in SA since 1981 and the gap between rich and poor had grown.

"As expected, sole parents and young single people show high levels of poverty," she said.

"But couples with dependents are also now increasingly likely to be in poverty."

AAP tjd/las

KEYWORD: POVERTY

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