A $1 billon gamble on poverty

The federal government has embarked on another attempt to end poverty through managing its symptoms rather than fixing them structurally. Framed as a shift “from palliatives to pathways,” it took place on August 26, 2026 with the launch of HOPE-SP (Household Prosperity and Economic/Empowerment Social Protection Project). Under the scheme, a target 7.6 million eligible […]