2019 Election Policy Tracker

Income support to get through tough times

Real help to find employment

A secure, affordable home for everybody

Action on climate change & affordable, clean energy

Quality health & community services for all in need

Funding for our future

A strong community voice & a thriving democracy

INCOME SUPPORT TO GET THROUGH TOUGH TIMES

Raise the rate of Newstart, Youth Allowance and related payments by a minimum of $75 per week

No plan to increase allowances.

Will review the rate of Newstart and related allowances within 18 months of forming government.

Support immediate increase of at least $75 per week, including indexation to wages.

Establish a Single Parent Supplement to help single parents with the cost of raising children

No plan to establish a Single Parent Supplement.

No plan to establish a Single Parent Supplement. The Newstart review will reconsider the age at which single parents move from Parenting Payment Single to Newstart.

Support in principle a plan to establish a Single Parent Supplement, benchmarked to the cost of children as they get older.

Establish a Social Security Commission to guide the Parliament on payment settings

No plan to establish a Social Security Commission.

Will establish an independent equality commission to advise government on income support rates and strategies to reduce inequality.

Index income support and family payments to wage movements.

No plan to index payments to wages.

Will review indexation of allowances within context of Newstart review. No plan to index family payments to wages.

Support wage indexation of allowances and family payments.

Abolish compulsory income management, cashless debit, third-party and verification of relationship status.

Will replace compulsory income management in the Northern Territory with compulsory cashless debit (maintaining 50% income quarantining). Plans to extend cashless debit.

Support extension of cashless debit trials sites for a further year to 2020. Will abolish compulsory cashless debit in Bundaberg.

Support abolition of compulsory income management, cashless debit and third-party verification of relationship status. Would only support income quarantining if it was truly opt-in.

Replace ‘Robodebt’ debt collection arrangements with a fairer system where the onus of proof for overpayments lies with Centrelink

No plan to abolish Robodebt.

Robodebt put on hold until recommendations from the 2017 inquiry into Robodebt are adopted and single touch payroll is introduced (as per Senate Inquiry report).

Support abolition of Robodebt, and call for correct, manual calculation of overpayments.

Ease unreasonable restrictions on access to the Disability Support Pension

No plan to improve access to the Disability Support Pension.

Support restoring access to DSP by stopping the ‘program of support’ approach, reviewing the impairment tables, and reviewing the assessment process. Also support DSP assessment panels having expertise in the disability of the applicants so that they can make informed decisions

Strengthen the capacity of Centrelink to meet need by increasing permanent staffing levels and introducing robust advisory arrangements

No plan to increase permanent staffing or introduce robust advisory arrangements.

Increase Centrelink staffing by 1,200 and cease the use of labour hire in Centrelink. No plan to introduce introducing robust advisory arrangements.

Support increasing permanent staff in Centrelink to ensure people are adequately supported. Also support establishing a reference group to advise on the use of digital platforms.

REAL HELP TO FIND EMPLOYMENT

The next government should commit to full employment, so as many people as possible can secure paid employment for the regular paid hours they need

Commitment to 1.25 million additional jobs over next 5 years, incl. 250,000 for young people

—

Committed to full employment. A Future of Work Commission to examine impacts of technological innovation and develop long-term strategies for jobs, & consider a jobs guarantee

The next government should commit to reduce long-term unemployment, expressed as a share of recipients of unemployment payments, over the next five years

No specific announcement

Comitted to reduce long-term employment

In the new employment services system that replaces jobactive, lift public investment in help for people unemployed long-term and those at risk

Spending on jobactive reduced by $65m over next 4 years (from $6B)General commitment to boost employment services for people unemployed long- term.General commitment to boost employment services for people unemployed long- term, including improvements to the Employment Fund to ensure it is effective for unemployed people, and ‘full access to education and vocational training courses’.

Build a quality employment services system that responds to the needs of unemployed people and employers

Conducted major review of employment services; announced 2 year pilot of new model in 2 regions with emphasis on online servicing; more flexible compliance & more individualised service for disadvantaged/unemployed long-term;  work experience programs continue: wage subsidies, Work for the Dole, & Youth Jobs Path.

Commitment to more flexible compliance rules; Youth Jobs Path to be replaced; review Work for the Dole incl. workplace health & safety; an employment services ombudsman; adjust funding to encourage investment in long term/ disadvantaged & more enduring job outcomes.

Charter of Rights &
Expectations for users of employment services;

Involve service users in formal advisory bodies;
principles to govern use
of digital platforms in employment services;
An independent quality assurance body for employment services;
Minimum training requirements for consultants;
A public employment service for job ready, & specialised not-for- profit sector services for those with complex barriers to employment;
Better partnerships among employment services, employers, training organisations, and health services to support long term unemployed;
Career counselling
for new entrants to workforce, parents & carers.

Re-orient employment services and payment rules from compliance with activity requirements towards positive help

Commitment to ‘provide more flexibility and diversity around the activities job seekers are expected to do’; Pilots will trial online service for ‘less disadvantaged’, which may ease compliance (incl. ‘20 jobs a month’ requirement), but also risks automation of payment suspensions;
Modest easing of Parents Next reporting requirements, but harsh ‘Targeted Compliance Framework’ remains in place;
The harsh Community Development Program for remote First Nations communities is retained.

Commitment to reduce counterproductive benefit compliance rules and review the ‘Targeted Compliance Framework’; ease compliance system for Parents Next;
abolish the harsh Community Development Program for remote First Nations communities; Strengthen role of Centrelink in managing compliance

Commitment to abolish ‘Targeted Compliance Framework’,
Replace Parents Next with a voluntary program;

Review activity requirements for people with caring roles, disabilities and other major barriers to employment;
Abolish the harsh Community Development Program for remote First Nations communities;
Strengthen role of Centrelink in managing compliance; remove the 20 job searches a month requirement;
Reduce the number of
hours for compulsory annual activities for unemployed workers from 25 hours a week to 15 hours a week.

A SECURE, AFFORDABLE HOME FOR EVERYBODY

The development of a new National Housing and Homelessness Strategy with targets to increase affordable housing for low-income households and reduce homelessnessNo plan to develop a National StrategyCommitted to delivering a National Strategy

Support development of a National Strategy

Major investment in new social housing meeting, growing to $10 billion in ten years

No plan to increase social housing investment

No specific commitment on social housing, but potential for new rental incentive (see below) to deliver social housing if subsidized by contributions from State/Territory Govts

Would invest in 500,000 new public and community housing dwellings funded through housing tax reforms and bank levy

A 30% increase in Rent Assistance for people on low incomes renting privately

No plan to increase Rent Assistance

No policy to increase Rent Assistance

A rental investment incentive to encourage investment in the construction of new affordable rental housing, including social housing for people with low incomes

Discontinued funding for National Rental Affordable Scheme and no plans to replace

New rental incentive of $8500 p.a. for 15 years to investors to deliver 250,000 affordable dwellings (20% below market rent), with 20,000 in first term.

Support an extension of NRAS or replacement scheme

A new national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing strategy, with funds earmarked in the proposed National Housing Agreement to support culturally appropriate housing, including growth of the Indigenous Community Housing sector and a new remote housing funding agreement between the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments.

No plans for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing strategy.

No plans for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing strategy but would add housing and homelessness targets to Closing the Gap strategy. Will work with States and invest in new housing and refurbishing existing housing stock in remote communities.

Would strongly consider development of a new national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing strategy.

Other priorities

Would invest $78m to emergency accommodation and Safe at Home programs for women and children impacted by family violence + $82m for frontline services.

Have established the National Housing Infrastructure Facility and Finance and Investment Corporation.

Will establish the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, to guarantee loans for up to 10,000 buyers with less than 20% deposit.

Will re-establish the National Housing Supply Council and Housing Minister.

Would invest $88m/2 years in Safe Housing Fund for women escaping DV and $120m for emergency accommodation. See proposals to reform housing taxes in ‘Funding for our Future’.

Will match the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme announced by the Liberal Party.

Would provide $500m p/a to crisis and transitional housing, indexed to CPI.

Would implement a national standard for renters’ rights.

See proposals to reform housing taxes in ‘Funding our Future’.

ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE & AFFORDABLE, CLEAN ENERGY

Cut carbon pollution:

Set emissions reduction targets of zero net emissions before 2050 and at least 45% by 2030.
Implement a credible, low-cost and equitable plan to transition to a clean economy that: includes a carbon price with complementary measures; prioritises the energy sector for faster emissions reductions; and supports vulnerable groups including low-income households, and affected workers and communities.
End fossil fuel subsidies

Cut carbon pollution:

Emission reduction target is only 26% by 2030, no 2050 target.
No economy wide carbon price. Continue Safeguard mechanism setting limits on industry emissions, limits are set too high. Continue Emissions Reduction Fund which pays companies to reduce emissions. No plan or target for energy sector transition. No plan to support vulnerable groups.
No policy to end fossil fuel subsidies

Cut carbon pollution:

Emission reduction target is 45% by 2030, net zero by 2050.
No economy wide carbon price scheme. Expand Coalition’s Safeguard mechanism by tightening emission limits and allowing access to domestic land sector and international offsets. Electricity Sector National Energy Guarantee with, 50% renewables by 2030. Just transition Authority for workers and affected communities. No specific mention of low-income households.
No policy to end fossil fuel subsidies

Cut carbon pollution:

Emissions reduction Target 63-82% by 2030, net zero by 2040
Economy wide carbon price that is linked to a household compensation package, with domestic offsets for land sector; 100% renewable energy by 2030; Transition body to plan the transition, support delivery and support workers and affected communities.
Abolish fossil fuel subsidies such as the Fuel Tax Credit for all industries except agriculture, and the immediate deduction for exploration and prospecting expenses for mining and end accelerated depreciation for oil and gas assets.

Support rapid transition to clean, affordable energy:

Work with COAG to implement mandatory energy efficiency standards for rental properties; co-fund energy efficiency and solar for social housing and Indigenous communities; and provide funds for homeowners on low-incomes to invest in solar and energy efficient measures.
Improve peoples’ capacity to pay energy bills by increasing Newstart; retain the Energy Supplement in full; and instigate a review to improve the uptake and adequacy of energy concessions, including shifting to full or partial percentage-based concessions.
Develop energy affordability and stress indicators to measure and reduce energy stress for low-income households.

Support rapid transition to clean, affordable energy:

Supported COAG Review of energy efficiency for existing houses. Rebates to community organisations to improve energy efficiency. No published policies on increasing energy efficiency and solar for Low-income households.
No plan to increase Newstart. Withdrew previous policy to scrap the energy supplement. No published policy to improve the adequacy of energy concessions.
No published policy to commit to reducing energy stress/poverty in line with indicators

Support rapid transition to clean, affordable energy:

No policy on mandatory energy efficiency standards for rental properties. Establish a Neighborhood Renewables Program to support some renters and social housing residents to access solar and energy efficiency.
Will review the rate of Newstart. Support retaining the energy supplement. No published policy on improving energy concessions.
No published policy to commit to reducing energy stress/poverty in line with indicators.

Support rapid transition to clean, affordable energy:

Support energy efficiency standard for rental properties. Require retailers to drive energy efficiency improvements, with a target for low-income households.
Support utilising the CECF to drive investment in social housing. Solar and battery grants & rebates with some support for landlords/renters and low-income households.
Support Raising Newstart by $75. Support retaining the energy supplement. No published policy on improving energy concessions. Will establish a public energy retailer.
Support development of energy affordability and stress indicators to then measure and reduce energy stress for low-income households.

Build resilience to the impacts of climate change

Fund production of an Australian social vulnerability map to enable development of local climate change adaptation and resilience plans; support communities to develop local climate change adaptation and resilience plans; and strengthen individual and local communities’ capacity to better adapt and become resilient to local climate change factors.
Establish a program to support community sector organisations to adapt to climate change, be better prepared for emergencies and disasters, improve resilience of their clients, and ensure continuity of care for vulnerable people.

Build resilience to the impacts of climate change

No published policies on climate change adaptation and resilience for people and local communities
No published policies on climate change adaptation and resilience for community organisations.

Build resilience to the impacts of climate change

No published policies on climate change adaptation and resilience for people and local communities.
No published policies on climate change adaptation and resilience for community organisations.

Build resilience to the impacts of climate change

The Greens support economy and community side changes and measures to develop, implement and act on policies that will improve climate resilience and will help shield low-income and other vulnerable communities from climate impacts. The Greens support the measures proposed by ACOSS.
The Greens recognise that community organisations will require funding and support from government to adapt and respond to climate change. The Greens support the measures proposed by ACOSS.

QUALITY HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES

Restore and improve funding for community services

$328 million for Domestic and Family Violence programs

$559,000 for volunteering programs

$13 million for carers programs and services

$40 million for emergency relief

$660 million to double the current funding for Domestic and Family Violence

$60 million for affordable loans for people on low incomes.

$320 million for financial counsellors

Free or low-cost access to all essential community services such as disability services, childcare, mental health and aged care services.

Improve access to early childhood education and care

Commitment to provide preschool education to all four year olds

Commitment to National Preschool and Kindy Program to provide preschool education to all three and four year olds. Will increase the subsidy for families earning up to $174,000 who meet the activity test. Will also review the system for vulnerable children.

Provide 80% of Australian families with free child care and extend universal access to early childhood education to 24 hours a week for all three and four-year-olds. Abolish the activity test for access to the Child Care Subsidy. Establish a $200 million grants fund to reduce waiting lists for child care in areas of high need.

Properly index all grants and contracts across the community sector

No commitments on indexation of Federal grants

Where appropriate, ensure funding includes proper indexation so community organisations do not see the real value of their grant drop away during the term of the grant.

Commitment to index community grants in line with Wage Price Index

Maintain funding for fair wages and quality servicesNo commitments on Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) cliffNo commitments on Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) cliff, however a general commitment to ensure that the funding provided to an organisation reflects the efficient costs of providing the services it is contracted to deliver.

Commitment to fund community services “enough to pay their staff”

Commit to fund and support advocacy by the representatives of people and communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage as a legitimate part of national public debate.

No commitments on advocacy

Labor strongly committed to advocacy, and will implement legislative and policy change to ensure community organisations can advocate.

Supports funding for AYAC.

“Strongly” committed to advocacy and the role of civil society in it. Would abolish gag clauses and support the capacity of organisations to engage in issues based advocacy.

Supports funding for AYAC.

Increase the duration of standard contracts for community sector funding.

No commitment on contract lengths.

A commitment to longer contract terms.

Commitment to increase the standard duration of contracts to 7 years for most organisations, and 10 years for community controlled first nations organisations.

Reform outdated fundraising laws and regulation

No commitment to reform fundraising laws

Commitment to reform fundraising laws

Invest in health promotion, prevention and community based health services

Commitment to enter into a dialogue with the sector about future financing of prevention and health promotion.$115 million Indigenous health package

$60 million for community health centres in Victoria

Commitment to enter into a dialogue with the sector about future financing of prevention and health promotion.

Commitment to abolish the PHI rebate and redirect funding into the public health system, prevention and community based health services

Make dental care affordable for all

Commitment to extend the NPA on dental health until 2020

Commitment to restore funding withdrawn from public dental health services. Pensioner Dental Plan would give Age Pensioners and Seniors Card holders access to $1000 in dental care/ 2 years ($2.4 billion)Commitment to make Medicare funded dental care available to all by 2025.

Abolish the Private Health Insurance rebate and reinvest savings in the public health system

No plans to abolish the PHI rebate

No plans to abolish the PHI rebate, although PHI to be reviewed by the Productivity Commission

Commitment to abolish the PHI rebate

Abolish the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) and reinvest savings in the public health system

No commitment to abolish the EMSN

Would support changes to the EMSN, in consultation with the sector.

FUNDING FOR OUR FUTURE

Strengthen personal income tax base and revenue for essential services

3 stage tax cuts, costing approx. $40B p.a. from 2024; Stage 1 mainly for middle income-earners; Stages 2 & 3 mainly go to high income-earners >$90,000; has tightened tax treatment of some trusts (staples securities) but opposes deeper reforms of their tax treatment.

1 stage tax cut, costing approx. $12B p.a. from 2024, mainly for low & middle income-earners; reverse stages 2 & 3 tax distributions from private trusts at a minimum rate of 30%.

Oppose further tax cuts; Reverse Stages 2 & 3; Buffet Rule so that deductions are capped for those earning more than $300,000 such that they pay a minimum of 35% tax; tax discretionary trusts as companies to ensure a minimum 30% on distributions to beneficiaries; curb use of private companies to shelter personal income.

The next government should guarantee affordable access to essential health, aged care and disability services, and implement tax reforms to finance it.

Stated position is to ‘guarantee services’ but the above tax cuts put future spending on services in doubt; has tightened tax concessions for super (including a $1.6m cap on fund balances attracting tax breaks) but opposes further reform in tax treatment of wealthier retired people (including removal of franking refunds).

Extend access to services such as dental, child care, and cancer treatment through new funding commitments (see above), remove refunds of excess franking credits to non-taxpayers (apart from those on income support).

Link affordable access to essential health, aged care and disability services to tax reforms, including 15% tax on super fund earnings in pension phase and removing the exemption for the Medicare high-income surcharge for individuals with private health insurance; remove refunds for excess franking credits for people who aren’t wealthy.

The tax treatment of housing should be reformed to discourage speculation in asset prices and directly encourage new investment in social and affordable housing by institutions and individuals.

Negative gearing tightened
(re: landlord expenses) but opposes deeper reform of negative gearing and Capital Gains Tax.

Negative gearing limited to new housing (apart from past negatively geared investments); Capital Gains Tax discount halved; introduce a new investment incentive for new affordable rental housing.

Reduce Capital Gains Tax discount to zero over 5 years; remove negative gearing (apart from past negatively geared investments) at a limit of one home per person, and support the states to transition from stamp duty to land tax; Federal Housing Trust to issue loans for states, territories and community housing providers for new affordable homes, consider an investment incentive for that purpose.

Curb tax avoidance and evasion by companies operating internationally

Legislation passed to limit profit-shifting (Multinational Anti-avoidance Law & Diverted Profits Tax); more ATO resources.

Additional measures including: tighter rules to prevent profit-shifting; more transparency re beneficial ownership of companies and trusts, and; financial reporting for companies earning over $100m.

Additional measures including:
tighter rules to prevent profit- shifting; more transparency re beneficial ownership of companies & trusts; a 40% super-profits tax for mineral resources; eliminate fuel tax credits for mining; more transparency re financial reporting for companies earning over $50m.

Tighten the tax treatment of alcoholic and other sugary drinks to discourage overconsumption, bring in revenue and improve public health.

No announcement.

Introduce a health levy on sugary drinks; standardise alcohol tax rates based on volume of alcohol content.

BACK TO TOP

STRONG COMMUNITY VOICE & THRIVING DEMOCRACY

A new standing advisory body – a National Reform Council – should be legislated to advise government on long-term whole-of-government policy challenges, integrating economic, social and environmental goals and perspectives. This body would replace the Productivity Commission.

The National Reform Council would collaborate with a First Nations Voice on challenges facing First Nations communities, the relationship between them and the wider community, and include representation from the First Nations Voice.

No plan to establish a new standing advisory body.

The Labor platform commits to a review of the Productivity Commission to consider whether it should remain the principal review and advisory body to the Commonwealth Government. The review would also consider reforms to make the body’s functions and policy guidelines fit for purpose.
No policy announcements have been made to date re: this commitment.

Commitment to legislate so that government decision-making bodies, advisory bodies and community consultation processes require consumer groups and citizens to be represented at the table in a meaningful way.
Would consider the establishment of a statutory National Reform Council as a whole of government advisory body, working together with a Voice to Parliament; and specialised expert Commissions to advise government.

In order to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard in our public debate, peak bodies and advocacy organisations representing people facing disadvantage should be adequately funded.

See ‘Community Services’ section

Support the legitimate role of community organisations as policy advocates in the interests of their communities by removing restrictions on using Commonwealth funds (or funding pursuant to National Partnership Agreements) for advocacy purposes (gag clauses).

No commitment to lift funding restrictions

Support a national regulatory framework which fosters public advocacy of sector and opposes gag clauses

Support the ability of charities and not-for-profit groups to use their funding for issues-based advocacy. Commitment to remove gag clauses from government funding agreements, as well as ensure that charities and not-for- profit groups don’t face a greater regulation and compliance burden than businesses and industry associations. Commitment to defend charities and not-for- profit groups so that they are free to cooperate on issues-based advocacy to advance the public interest.