The motion was passed at the September 25 council meeting and comes as a campaign by the Newcastle Anti-Poverty Alliance, supported by the Australian Unemployed Workers Union, gathers steam.

The Alliance is campaigning for the federal government to increase the Newstart rate to bring it up to the poverty line. 

Currently Newstart pays $273 per week, $160 below the poverty-line. It has not been raised in real terms for 24 years. 

The motion was put up by Cr Matthew Byrne, and was passed unanimously. 

It acknowledged the “significant social and personal harm caused by unemployment” and publicly endorsed the Alliance’s campaign.

The motion also committed to write to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the leader of the opposition, Bill Shorten, to seek a commitment to increase the rate. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes told The Star she was “proud” to support Cr Byrne’s motion. 

“Equity and well-being for all citizens are essential to our collective future,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Successful communities ensure that the most vulnerable are given the assistance they need.”

Already several councils in South Australia and Victoria have voted to support a rise of Newstart. In Queensland, Logan council voted in support of an increase on the same night at NCC. 

“We know only the federal government can raise Newstart, but local councils can add their voice to the growing number of businesses, welfare and union groups across Australia that are calling for a raise,” Alliance coordinator Chris Parish said. 

“It [the decision] marks a milestone in what has been a long path for us … to have the struggle of unemployed people publicly recognised for the difficulties and challenges they face every day.

“The strategy is to generate a groundswell of grassroots feeling, a movement at a local level, to recognise poverty and particularly low level incomes as a regional issue. 

“More than anything at the moment it’s about awareness raising.”