Despite Australia remaining one of the world’s most prosperous nations, its ability to maintain a high standard of living for all Australians (particularly low-income earners) is being tested. Problems receiving greater attention in recent years include greater home unaffordability; increasing disparity of wages between high- and low-income earners; decreasing purchasing power for low-income earners because of higher prices for food, petrol and utilities; and an increasing reliance on credit. Such trends have emerged despite the Howard government’s considerable efforts and achievements, as seen by the high level of economic growth (compared with most other developed nations), lower unemployment rates, numerous…