# Australian poverty and food insecurity concerns > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/australian-poverty-and-food-insecurity-concerns > Updated: 2026-10-25T19:58:31.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. During Anti-Poverty Week, Australian social service organizations called on the Federal Government to establish official poverty measures and targets. Advocates argued that the lack of standardized data hinders the ability to address the causes of poverty or implement effective policies. In the Australian Capital Territory, reports indicated that approximately one in seven residents and one in six children live in poverty, with rising costs contributing to food insecurity and housing difficulties. By late October, reports indicated that food insecurity was becoming entrenched, with one-third of Australian households—representing more than 3.5 million families—reporting they had skipped meals or lacked access to quality produce within the past year. Data suggested that severe food insecurity increased nationally by approximately 40% between 2020 and 2024. Advocates have responded to these trends by calling for increased government support, including higher youth allowances, pensions, and single-parent payments, alongside sustained funding for school breakfast programs. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-25: Food insecurity affects one-third of Australian households One-third of Australian households have experienced food insecurity in the last year due to rising cost-of-living pressures, with severe cases increasing by 40% since 2020. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/food-insecurity-affects-one-third-of-australian-households ### 2026-10-12: Australian social services call for official poverty measures Australian social service organizations are urging the Federal Government to implement official poverty measures to better address rising cost-of-living pressures and food insecurity. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australian-social-services-call-for-official-poverty-measures --- Cite as: Australian poverty and food insecurity concerns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/australian-poverty-and-food-insecurity-concerns