ACOSS Reports & Submissions
Australian Federal Budget
January 2012
In this submission, ACOSS outlines policy recommendations for consideration by the Federal Government in its 2012-13 Budget. The submission aims to resolve the tension between the Govern-ment’s commitment to restore the Budget to surplus from 2012-13 and the urgency of social and economic needs not yet met, of key social and economic reforms not yet completed.
Our priority for the 2012-13 Federal Budget remains to ensure that no person is excluded from the benefits of economic growth and prosperity and from the opportunity to fully participate in society. Some of the policy building blocks to meet this goal have been laid, including the commitment to introduce a National Disability Insurance Scheme, the emerging policy focus on employment participation for people excluded from the labour market, and last year’s mental health reform package.
May 2011
This analysis was undertaken by Solange Frost, Senior Policy Officer, NCOSS
The 2011 Federal Budget makes a significant new investment in mental health and regional health while generally maintaining existing program funding in other areas.
The total investment in mental health and rural and remote health is $3.5bn over five years, which includes $2.5bn in new funding. Oral health receives a small investment of $53.1m over four years, as a pre-cursor to significant reform in 2012-13.
Some small cost-saving measures are achieved from program reforms, including pathology and hearing services. Future cost savings are anticipated from means-testing the Private Health Insurance Rebate and closing the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme.
May 2011
This initial ACOSS briefing on the 2011-12 Federal Budget outlines key measures announced in the Budget in areas of interest to ACOSS members, to assist members in their work. This briefing does not offer extensive comment on the merit or otherwise of these measures.
This paper outlines the measures firstly by providing a general background on Budget revenue and expenses. This is followed by an outline of key measures in each of ACOSS' major policy areas: income support; health; mental health; community services; climate change and energy; housing and homelessness; indigenous policy; taxation; and employment, education and training.
The detailed Government Budget papers can be found online at www.budget.gov.au.
April 2011
Recommendations for the Federal Budget 2011-12
In this submission, ACOSS outlines policy recommendations for consideration by the Federal Government in its 2011-12 Budget. These recommendations allow the Government to continue its vital funding for social security payments; for social and community services to alleviate the effects of poverty and its consequent social exclusion; and to prioritise the expenditure of public funds in the context of the recent flood disasters and its impact upon revenue.
May 2010
The 2010 Federal Budget has begun to do what ACOSS has long been advocating - a health system that coordinates and integrates health promotion and primary care within a clearly multi-disciplinary model. However, important pieces of the puzzle are missing, not least in the areas of oral health and mental health. This analysis and commentary addresses announcements for the health portfolio in the 2010 Federal Budget, including some previously agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments, that are directly relevant to ACOSS priorities of improving access to health services and improving health outcomes for low income Australians.
May 2010
This initial ACOSS briefing on the 2010-11 Federal Budget outlines key measures announced in the Budget in areas of interest to ACOSS members, to assist them in their work. It does not offer extensive comment on the merit of these measures.
March 2010
Recommendations for the Federal Budget 2010-11
In this submission, ACOSS outlines policy recommendations for consideration by the Federal Government in its 2010-11 Budget. These recommendations allow the Government to continue its vital funding for social security payments; for social and community services to alleviate the effects of poverty and its consequent social exclusion; and to prioritise the expenditure of public funds in the context of the global recession and its impact upon revenue.
Specifically, ACOSS is urging the Federal Government to tackle growing disadvantage among unemployed Australians by setting up a program of paid work experience and by lifting unemployment payments for singles by $45 per week.
July 2009
Changes to family payments will increase child poverty. Proposed changes to the Family Tax Benefit from the 2009 Budget will mean a loss of income over time for families who can least afford it. This will almost inevitably lead to an increase in child poverty. ACOSS is concerned that low income families will pay the price of the pension increase.
May 2009
Following the release of the Federal Budget, community sector organisations are increasingly concerned that gaps between income support payments are widening and there is now a four-class system of income support. There is a $147 per week gap between the top and bottom income support payments.
New research released by ACOSS shows a stark contrast in the different levels of income support payments and an increasingly complex system.
May 2009
ACOSS has prepared this briefing on the 2009-10 Federal Budget. This paper explains the funding announcements made in the Budget in relevant areas of interest to ACOSS members. It does not offer extensive comment on the merit of these measures. It is intended to assist member organisations in their work.
