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Ref:7/2002
11
April, 2002
Fairness Needed in Federal
Budget
The
Federal Government has indicated that there will be significant cuts
to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in the forthcoming budget;
changes to be made because of the exceedingly generous extension
of the scheme in last years budget. The
2001/02 budget made subsidised pharmaceuticals available to comparatively
well off retirees.
Adelaide
Central Missions is also seeing the effects of growing levels of
homelessness, exacerbated by the lack of affordable rental accommodation. This
decline in suitable accommodation for lower income earners has been
mainly caused by the reduction in housing stock through the SA Housing
Trust. A significant
factor in this loss has been the collapse of the Commonwealth State
Housing Agreement.
“In
short, the federal government is taking money away from the basics
of life for low income people, who now face high housing costs, unaffordable
medications and of course higher food costs from the GST.”, said
Rev Dr Geoff Scott, Minister of the Mission. “This
is fundamentally unfair, we have low income people subsidising the
life styles of the better off, because of government policy”
“We
are also concerned that although Australia has experienced 10 years
(41 quarters) of continued economic growth, demand for Adelaide Central
Mission services by low income households continues to grow,” said
Mark Henley, Manger of Advocacy. “Economic
growth in the 90’s has created an increasingly divided Australia,
with more poor people and the better off doing very well. The
Federal Government must use the budget process to ensure that the
economic gains that have been made are more evenly shared, not concentrated
in the pockets of a few.”
Adelaide
Central Mission is calling on the Federal Treasurer to deliver a
budget that:
- ensures
that the health of low income Australians is not compromised
- Increases
funding to the direct provision of housing.
| For Further Comment | |||
| Mark
Henley Senior Policy Officer |
8202
5135 (w) 0404 067 011 (mob) |
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