Australians have faced a tough and tumultuous few years. Many were expecting the economic pain of the pandemic to fade relatively quickly as the economy snapped back. But a cost of living crisis has prolonged the pain for many Australian households. More and more people, including those working full time, are struggling to afford essentials such as food, utilities, and rent. The Government and financial institutions are acting to address inflation, including by cutting spending and increasing interest rates, but they must ensure they do so in a way that doesn’t further harm Australians already doing it tough. In this submission, we argue for the Government to take steps to ensure Australians can weather the current cost of living crisis without entrenching greater inequality.