May 2001

No Equity in Budget

"The anticipated gains for low income and poor families have not materialised in this Budget" said Ms Sue Park, CEO of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide.

"Next year there is $ 5 billion in tax cuts, mainly benefiting wealthy people, there is a further $ 2.5 billion extra spending in Defence. However for half of the population who receive some form of welfare assistance, there is a meagre $76 million increase in funding, mainly for programs to assist transition to work" Ms Park explained.

ACM is well aware of the need for additional funding for Nursing Home beds and for Community Aged Care Packages to help frail; aged to stay in their own homes. "It is very disappointing that there is only $300,000 Australia wide, next year, to extend aged care at home to people with high care needs. There is only $1.5 million Australia wide to provide culturally appropriate care for people form diverse communities."

Ms Park noted the lack of funds for homeless people in the budget. "There were over 300,000 incidents of unmet service request to Supported Accommodation services last year" said Ms Park, "yet this budget does nothing substantial to address this issue."

Ms Park noted that where there had been increases in social expenditure, these had largely benefited those people who are relatively advantaged, including self funded retirees with comparatively comfortable assets. Pensioners on a full pension get nothing apart from a one off payment of $300.

Further Comment

Sue Park CEO

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For Further Comment
Mark Henley Senior Policy Officer	8202 5135 (w) 0404 067 011 (mob)