1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates yet again, 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: yes yesterday, for the tenth consecutive month, inflicting further pain 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: on household and it looks, well, really like it's going 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: to be tough going for a lot of people right 5 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: around Australia. I know that nationally. Saint Vincent de Paul 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: they issued a statement saying that the increase in official 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: interest rates, the tenth in a row, is going to 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: punish Australia's most vulnerable the hardest and also push them 9 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: further into disadvantage and despair as that cost of living 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: crisis deepens. Now joining me on the show is Saint 11 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: Vincent de Paul's Society's CEO, Rob Latter. Good morning to. 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 2: You, Rob, Hi Katie, how are you? 13 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: Yeah? Not too bad, Rob? Yesterday another interstrate rise. It 14 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: is making things really difficult for people, not only around 15 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: the territory but right around Australia, isn't it. 16 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. It's not just people on benefits now 17 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 2: that are getting the impact. It's also people who are 18 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 2: on both incomes. They're getting extensively impacted by this. They 19 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 2: might not own property, they might be in rentals and 20 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 2: rents are going up because obviously mortgages are going up. 21 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: Rob what are you saying here in the Northern Territory 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: in your role with Sintphiny's, I mean, are you in 23 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: a situation where you're seeing more people seek your services? 24 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, absolutely, we have had seen a rise of 25 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: about thirty percent in the last four or five months 26 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: in our emergency relief area, which is where we assist 27 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 2: people with Grow three vouchers. We help with power and 28 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: water payment relief in those areas, and we've seen a 29 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: large increase in those areas of people just coming in 30 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: the door and new people, so not just we used 31 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: to see a lot of people who are just on benefit, 32 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: but now we're seeing people who are who are working 33 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 2: in retail, who are working in hospitality and services. The 34 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 2: lower income people are now starting to get them impacted 35 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 2: and they can't power, they pay their power bill, you 36 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 2: know that sort of thing. We're seeing those sort of things, 37 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: they can't get food on the table. 38 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: Honestly, I'm not surprised because you know, as you see 39 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: those interest rates rise, it has an impact on a 40 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: lot of people who obviously own their own home are 41 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: paying their mortgages. But it also has an impact sort 42 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: of more further afield on those that are in the 43 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: rental you know, the rental market as well. We know 44 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: that it's sort of it has a widespread effect. 45 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. I mean what we're seeing 46 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 2: is we're seeing people who come in and say, hey, 47 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: our landlord has put up our rent by one hundred 48 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 2: arand and fifty dollars a week, and we now have 49 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 2: to find that money. The problem is they can't leave 50 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 2: because there's a housing crisis, so they if they leave, 51 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: they will have to find out of the accommodation. And 52 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: we all know in the n T there is none. 53 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: We have on our books alone at our housing six 54 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: hundred people waiting. So you know, it's lots of compounding 55 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 2: issues here, not just the increase, it's just everything. 56 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 1: What kind of impact then, does that have on on 57 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: you guys, you know, because you're out there obviously to 58 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: service the community, to help people when they need a 59 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 1: hand up. But it must get difficult. It is. 60 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 2: We have every day difficult conversations on the same you know, 61 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 2: we tell people that we don't have any accommodation, we'll 62 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 2: put you on the waiting list. But bear in mind 63 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: there are six hundred hundred people who are in front 64 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 2: of you. You know that these are sort of scenarios. 65 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: They're saying, well, I can't pay my power bill. They're 66 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 2: ringing out and you know they can't pay the tower 67 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: ball they're going to be you know, the tower is 68 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: going to be turned off. We get these scenarios. Probably 69 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 2: know these calls about sifting to twenty times a day 70 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: just in the office here. 71 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: Wow. So Rob, with those six hundred people that are 72 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: already on the waiting list for that emergency accommodation, is 73 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: that right around the Northern Territory. 74 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: No, our accommodation is based here in Darwin and also 75 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,679 Speaker 2: and Catherine. So we yeah, but I mean that's just us, 76 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: you know, I mean everyone else will be in the 77 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 2: same boat. And yeah, it's very difficult out there for 78 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 2: people who are on benefit, who are and lower income, 79 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 2: and it's getting worse. 80 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: Rob. Something that we've had raised with us over the 81 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: last couple of weeks is that we've had some seniors 82 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: get in contact with us after the smart meters have 83 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: been swapped over their power meters to smart meters in 84 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: their homes and it's had a big increase for them 85 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: in terms of paying their power bills. Is that something 86 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: that you guys have been contacted about. 87 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 2: Not directly, but we do obviously we have age services 88 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: part of what we do, and we're certainly seeing impact 89 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: on our aged people who may still have mortgages or 90 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 2: may be renting, and they are very much suffering as well. 91 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: So you can imagine your your you know, your your 92 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 2: grandparents who has been forced out of rental because they 93 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: just just can't afford to pay rent. You know, these 94 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 2: are scenarios that we've never had to deal with before, 95 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 2: and that's the situation we're looking at now. You know, 96 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 2: it's across the board. 97 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: It's really hard right now. 98 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 2: It is you're talking about people who have worked, who 99 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 2: have who have added to society, who are now in 100 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: a situation, well they know they cannot afford to pay 101 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: the rents if they're renting, and you know, it's terrible, 102 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: it's it's honestly, it's the stories we hear every day 103 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 2: are heartbreaking. 104 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: They truly are. And you know the scary thing is 105 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: is that they don't doesn't seem to be relief in 106 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: sight as yet. And I do want to point out 107 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: to people that obviously Saint Vincent de Paul. You're the 108 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: Saint Vincent de Paul Society do a phenomenal job in 109 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: terms of helping people when they really do need that support. 110 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: So people are able to obviously get in contact with 111 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: you guys. But Rob, the scary thing I guess for 112 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: a lot of people right now is that the RBA 113 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: it's not sort of sounding as though these rate rises 114 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: are going to halt in a hurry. And it's also 115 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: not sounding as though I mean you may have heard 116 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: differently to me, but it's not sort of sounding as 117 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: though there's a lot of relief in sight from the 118 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: federal government either. 119 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, if there is, it needs to be need space. 120 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 2: So the big issues that we face here in the 121 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 2: NT is that a lot of the funding is population 122 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 2: based and it ends up going down to Victoria, to 123 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 2: New South Wales, to Queensland to all the bigger states 124 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: because that's where the money goes. We only get a 125 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: small percentage because it's population based, it's not needs based, 126 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: And we definitely know in lots of areas you'll see 127 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: a rise in domestic violence because you know all these 128 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 2: other compounding issues that happen when when you can't pay 129 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: the bills it's not just a simple matter of that. 130 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: It affects the whole family, you know, it's a major issue, 131 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: affects everything. Yeah, Rob, And we need needs based funding 132 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: from federal government. 133 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, I certainly agree with you on that. I 134 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: think that we've got to make sure that we're getting 135 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: this right and we've got to make sure that we 136 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: are supporting people right around Australia, but particularly here in 137 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: the territory. I know that some Vincent De Paul Society 138 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: have really called yesterday as well on that national on 139 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: that national stage, for the federal government to provide some 140 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: immediate cost of living relief for Australians in the upcoming 141 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: budget as well. 142 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, we need we need that relief and we 143 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: need it, need space so that NT gets its share 144 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: as well, because at the moment we were highly unlikely 145 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: to get anything major, so it needs to be needs based. 146 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: Now, Rob, to anybody listening this morning who may be 147 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: going through a bit of a tough patch and sort 148 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: of might be in need of a bit of help, 149 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: where like, where can they go? Well, I know that 150 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: there are a number of different organizations that do help people. 151 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: What is your best advice for those people? This morning. 152 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 2: So if you're on if you're on benefit, so I'd 153 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: suedesce to go straight into Senselink and have a discussion 154 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: with them. If you have problems with your power bills. 155 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: They can give me on a payment scheme if you're 156 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 2: in a position to do that, So talk to the 157 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 2: power people, talk to Power and Water, have that discussion 158 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 2: and say, look, you know I can't meet those payments 159 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 2: right now. Put me on a payment scheme. You know 160 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 2: what a rent that's another matter. You know a lot 161 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 2: of a lot of people out there that are struggling 162 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 2: with that. So we just just need to have that discussion. 163 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 2: So we're centling with your power people. There's other you 164 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 2: can come to us, you can come to Salvation Army, 165 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 2: there's lots of there's lots of organizations that can help 166 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: you in various aspects of what you're dealing with. But 167 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 2: I'd suggest the first thing is to have a discussion 168 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: with centralling you beyond benefit, have a discussion with Power 169 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 2: and Water if you're having problems with those bills, because 170 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 2: generally there are things that can be done. 171 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: Good advice CEEO of St. Vincent DePaul Society here in 172 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,719 Speaker 1: the Northern territory, Rob Lutter, I really appreciate you having 173 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: a chat with us. Thank you so much for your 174 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: time today. 175 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you you too.