Is it a 'fair go' for all Aussies? : bridging Australia's capital gap with microcredit

In an affluent country like Australia, the meaning of poverty is different from the absolute deprivation or subsistence poverty that exists in many developing countries. In rich countries like Australia, poverty is relative rather than absolute. This implies that poverty is not lack of sufficient resources to meet basic needs, but lack of resources required to be able to participate in the lifestyle enjoyed by other Australians. The acceptance of poverty as a relative concept means that poverty and inequality are related. Microfinance in Australia has the potential to eliminate disadvantage and social exclusion, Governments see it as a cost effective way of building an 'enterprise culture', enhancing domestic economic capacity and reducing both unemployment and poverty.