$5 milk and $90 rent increases: The NT's rising cost of living pushing families into housing stress

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Northern Territory is becoming one of the most expensive places to live in Australia, according to a new report by The Northern Territory Council of Social Services It points to the soaring cost of rentals, and some of the highest household bills and fuel costs in the country.

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00:00After a long, successful career, Kerry Matthews expected to be financially secure in retirement.

00:09But that's not the case. After a recent $800 water bill, she's stopped watering the garden

00:16and is selling personal items to afford her insulin pump.

00:20I was always afraid of dying in my sleep. That's the thing with us type ones.

00:24The pump takes that away. So it's become very important for me to keep that.

00:29Over the last two years after relocating to the NT, the cost of living is forcing her to move on.

00:35I thought our lifestyle would be so much better up here. So it's very disappointing.

00:40A new report shows NT residents facing rising electricity costs and in some places eye-watering petrol prices.

00:49Darwin is the third most expensive capital city for transport, even with a temporary freeze on bus fares.

00:56And the second most expensive place to rent.

01:00We've seen things like in Palmerston, a one bedroom unit, the rent increasing by $90 just in a 12 month period.

01:10And it's hitting low income earners hardest. In remote communities, residents face astronomical prices for food.

01:17While the type of people accessing food bank in Darwin is changing.

01:22One third of all the families that visit food bank in SA and NT are mortgage holders.

01:27Families that have worked really hard, saved the deposit and still find themselves in need of help.

01:3160% of all food bank clients and families have at least one person in employment as well.

01:37With low income earners now being forced to choose between rent, power, food and other essentials,

01:43the NT cost report recommends expanding the concession scheme and increasing the remote area allowance.

01:50Roxanne Fitzgerald, ABC News.

01:53Thank you very much.

01:55Absolutely, you just wanted to see.

01:58See you next time.

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