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October 2022 Federal Budget Response
The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia welcomes the Federal Budget’s investment in social and affordable housing, aged care, community services, childcare and domestic violence; but is deeply concerned that the budget fails to relieve the pressures exacerbating poverty and disadvantage now.
‘The Albanese Government’s first budget lays a number of foundations for a better Australia in the future but sadly condemns Australians living in poverty now to despair and disadvantage as the cost- of-living continues to surge,’ National President Claire Victory said.
‘We were disappointed the Government has failed to increase the JobSeeker rate, which at $48 a day consigns around 830,000 Australians to live below the poverty line.
‘The plight of disadvantaged Australians is getting worse every day that the Government fails to act, as inflation, interest rates and the cost-of-living surge higher.
‘We need the Government to enter a Compact with people who are struggling to survive as everyday living costs escalate.
‘We must not leave those on low incomes or government benefits to continue to struggle to put food on their table or to secure affordable houses,’ Ms Victory said.
The Society welcomes the announcement of the National Housing Accord, which will bring together Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments, and key funding and delivery partners, to establish the architecture for a long-term response to the housing crisis.
‘We commend the Government’s establishment of the National Housing Accord and news that it will fully capitalise the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund now, rather than over three years, in order to bring forward much-needed social and affordable housing,’ Ms Victory said.
‘But the current commitments fall well short of addressing Australia’s housing crisis and urgent action is needed now.
‘As an emergency measure, the Society is urging the Government to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which has failed to keep up with surging inflation and rents,’ Ms Victory said.
‘During the pandemic, many people on temporary visas sought the Society’s assistance, often for the first time and mainly because they had access to little or no safety net,’ Ms Victory said.
The Society calls on the Government to make SRSS available to bridging visa holders based on need, such as for those awaiting assessments or review of their claims for protection, including claims before the courts, persons studying or otherwise deemed eligible to work but unable to find a job.
‘These increases could have been funded through the discontinuation of the inequitable stage 3 tax package, the cost of which has blown out by $11 billion to $254 billion over 10 years,’ Ms Victory said.
‘While the budget offers some hope for a better future, it fails to provide the urgent assistance disadvantaged Australians need to survive today and it cannot be seen to fulfil the Albanese Government’s early promise to leave no one behind.
‘As a country we must have a conversation about what matters most.
‘Can we give funds to those who are already very comfortable while a growing number of people in our community will struggle to afford the essentials of life?’ Ms Victory said.
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