Categories: AIM Extra

Bold action needed to lift living standards and secure a better future

Australian Council Of Social Service (ACOSS) Media Release

ACOSS is calling on all political parties and candidates to commit to a bold, people-centred policy agenda ahead of the upcoming federal budget, with urgent investment in social security, housing, employment, climate action and disaster resilience.

With an election on the horizon, the next government must use all the tools at its disposal to deliver meaningful reforms following years of declining living standards and rising inequality.

“Australia prides itself on being the nation of the ‘fair go’, but this ideal is slipping further from reality for many people,” ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie AO said.

“People are experiencing historic falls in living standards and growing inequality, with too many struggling to pay bills and facing unprecedented anxiety about their future. We are at a critical juncture. The cost-of-living crisis, inadequate social security system, housing unaffordability and the growing impacts of climate change are pushing millions of people to the brink.

“This budget and the upcoming election must be about lifting people out of poverty, ensuring secure housing, and making our communities more resilient to economic and environmental shocks.”

ACOSS’s 2025 Federal Election policy platform outlines critical reforms needed across seven key areas to ensure no one is left behind.

Key priorities:

  • First Nations justice and self-determination: Deliver funding and resourcing needed to implement reform priorities under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, including through shared decision-making models
  • A social security system that meets need: Increase all income support payments to at least the pension rate of $82 a day to ensure everyone can afford basics like housing, food, and medicine
  • Make housing affordable for people with low incomes: Substantially invest in social housing with a clear pathway toward social housing comprising 10% of all housing stock, while implementing reforms to halve the Capital Gains Tax
  • Employment opportunities: Invest $1 billion annually in labor market programs that make a real difference for people experiencing long-term unemployment, and an immediate end to the Targeted Compliance Framework and automated payment suspensions
  • Investing in quality community services: End chronic underfunding of community service organisations by developing better funding models to ensure long-term viability and ability to meet growing community needs
  • Action on climate change: Provide substantial funding to accelerate home energy upgrades for all low-income and First Nations housing to reduce energy poverty and improve resilience
  • A fairer tax system: Implement measures to ensure everyone pays their fair share, including broadening the Medicare Levy income definition to prevent avoidance by high-income earners, and the adoption of tax reforms to raise public revenue

ACOSS is urging all parties to show leadership and commit to policies that prioritise fairness, security and resilience.

“The choices made by the next government will determine whether Australia becomes a more equal society where everyone can live with dignity, or whether we continue down a path of growing inequality,” Dr Goldie said.

“We cannot allow inequality to deepen any further. This election is a moment to choose a fairer, more inclusive future where no one is left behind. We are calling on all political parties to step up and take action.”

 

View the full budget priorities statement here.

 

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AIMN Editorial

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  • A nice wish list, however don't hold your breath!

    Until Negative Gearing is removed as the principal 'investment' strategy of the rich and wannabe's nothing will change, distinct conflict of interest irrespective of your politics guarantees that.

    Case in point, I'm renting in regional Victoria, have a landlord who is the worst kind possible who only holds his hands out for money and woe betide you if you need anything done!

    Have waited for over 12 months for a clothes line to be repaired, would cost no more than $50.00 in raw materials from Bunning's, have asked for drain blockage to be cleared, hence no washing machine facilities for the same period of time, had to deal with European wasp infection which took a while and a revisit to complete treatment, had to rewire the kitchen due to faulty electrical works and the remainder of the property probably needs similar all round, after 16 months tenancy finally replaced a faulty heating system which has left a huge hole in the wall and not repaired yet and left me with a huge gas bill which I'm paying down, as I'm a pensioner.

    There are laws in place for regular maintenance checks which he thumbed his nose at until circumstances pushed him otherwise and waited for Government subsidies to replace faulty unit. I hate to think about what the Insurance impacts would be if I could afford contents insurance!

    He gets the lawn moved regularly, however there's more to garden maintenance than mowing lawns and the soil to support any food growing is poor.

    As for claiming that these people are self-funded retirees, rubbish, it's all taxpayer funded, wannabe's and rich alike.

    Get rid of Negative gearing, rejig the entire tax system, rip out entrenched systemic flaws in laws and regulations (Workchoices) Productivity Commissions (a joke) period and you may just have enough money to fund for a decent public education system, health, transport and public service systems where it’s needed most.

    Climate action and disaster resilience, that could have happened at least 20 years ago however vested interests and Liberal Party delusion with the help of Reinhart and the Nationals keeps that going along with the MSM denials irrespective of that fact that climate damage has been well known by the extraction industry since the 1970’s.

    Lack of political will all round by both major parties.

  • Governments have ensured that there is insufficient resourcing for advocacy. The mechanisms available to citizens for redress against governments' actions are mostly inaccessible and can never be timely.

    ACOSS has not enough resourcing and little scope to lever results.

    My concern is that our children and youth are subjected to unacceptable levels of neglect, abuse, violence, bullying and intimidation in childcare and public schools. The state governments fail to adequately resource the sectors. The Qld Commission for Family and Children refused to investigate the situation in Logan City Qld. Those parents who are able either opt for private schools or home schooling. Parents and communities are powerless to effect change. Behaviours in public schools is so violent than many primary school students exhibit symptoms of untreated PTSD. In truth these schools are incubators for family, community and domestic violence. And it is business as usual??!!!
    If we are unable to protect our children our future is dismal.

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