SA: Report shows SA the poorest state

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

A study has found South Australia is the poorest state in Australia.

The report, conducted by the University of South Australia and the South Australian
Council of Social Service, reveals SA has the lowest mean income of all states and the
highest rate of poverty in the nation.

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

The report used data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and information from focus groups.

Chief investigator, Associate Professor ED CARSON says it also shows that while rural
and regional areas are often regarded as doing it tougher than the city, this is not necessarily
the case.

He says there are clusters of serious disadvantage in both metropolitan and rural areas.

SACOSS executive director PAM SIMMONS says the report also revealed poverty rates have
more than doubled in SA since 1981 and the gap between the rich and poor has grown.

AAP RTV tjd/rsm

KEYWORD: POVERTY (ADELAIDE)

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