Social welfare and other not-for-profit organisations dedicated to helping Australia’s poor and marginalised have welcomed many of the measures in the federal government’s 2024/25 Budget but believe much more is needed.
Jesuit Social Services (JSS) believes the failure to make significant increases to the JobSeeker and related income support payments limits too many Australians from living with dignity.
Acting CEO Stephen Ward said JSS appreciated the many measures aimed at alleviating cost-of-living pressures, including a $1.9b investment into increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance payments.
However, JSS was deeply disappointed with the government’s failure to raise JobSeeker rates. ‘The federal government’s own Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee recently recommended a significant rise in these payments, finding that lifting the Jobseeker rate to $72 a day would enable people to lead more positive and fulfilling lives, and not having to choose between essential medication and supplies or putting a roof over their heads.’
St Vincent de Paul Society also believes a top priority should be the substantial increase to working age payments such as JobSeeker. Society president Mark Gaetani said many households struggle to get by day to day, and the Budget was unlikely to significantly improve their circumstances.
‘[Many] continue to face a national rental crisis as well as the rising cost of essentials, especially food. Requests for the Society’s assistance have risen across Australia by between 14% and 40%, with four-in-five people seeking assistance with food.
‘The combination of high costs of living and inadequate incomes is a perfect storm. Those relying on income support payments like JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and Disability Support Pension will see little relief from this Budget. For some time, the Society has been urging an increase in these payments, in the case of JobSeeker to 90% of the Age Pension.’
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) said despite some positive measures, the government is ‘deliberately and cruelly denying people receiving unemployment payments decent income support’.
Mission Australia was concerned with the lack of investment to tackle Australia’s homelessness and housing emergency.
While welcoming some of the measures announced, including funding for crisis and transitional accommodation for young people and women and children escaping violence, and some extra investment in social and affordable housing, Mission Australia executive Ben Carblis said the government’s efforts lacked the necessary scale to prevent homelessness in the first place, and to provide long-term relief to those without safe, secure and affordable homes.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his third Budget on Tuesday, 14 May 2024.
Image: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer of Australia, Dr Jim Chalmers in Canberra on 15 May 2024. Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images