Salvos warn over five million Australians won't be able to afford a Christmas meal

Salvation Army public relations secretary Major Warren Elliott says people from “all walks of life” are struggling and have been forced to reach out for help and support this Christmas. Research from the Salvation Army revealed that 68 per cent of Australians are being seriously impacted by the cost of living crisis this Christmas. It is estimated more than 5.3 million Aussies won't be able to afford a Christmas meal. “We're concerned that a lot of people are really struggling over Christmas in a number of different ways and people from all different walks of life are struggling,” Mr Elliot told Sky News Australia. “People are spending less on food, people are going out less … they're purchasing less presents for their children and for their family so people are really doing it tough.”