BUDGET WISH LIST FROM AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE
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INCOME SUPPORT
* Lift income support payments to at least $69 a day from $45, the same level as the current pension and pension supplement.
* Double rent assistance payments, provide a disability and illness supplement of at least $50 a week and a single parent supplement.
* Abolish mandatory income management programs like the cashless debit card.
TAX
* Do not go ahead with income tax cuts - $16 billion per annum going mainly to people on higher incomes - scheduled for 2024-25.
* Replace tax concessions for superannuation contributions with a fairer and simpler annual rebate.
* Abolish fuel tax credits for off-road use, except for agriculture.
EMPLOYMENT
* Introduce a flexible jobs and training guarantee for people unemployed long-term.
* Ease unemployment payment compliance arrangements.
HOUSING
* Roll out a 20,000 dwelling, $7 billion social housing package over the next three years to reduce homelessness, kickstart housing constructions and growth in jobs and incomes.
CLIMATE CHANGE
* Invest up to $5000 per household in energy efficiency improvements for 1.8 million low-income homes to cut emissions, energy bills, and create thousands of local jobs.
* Invest in clean energy and energy efficiency for remote communities.
* Provide emergency energy debt relief of $1000 per household to reduce energy payment difficulties.
* Establish and fund an Energy Transition Authority to provide a fair and inclusive transition for workers and communities dependent on fossil fuels.
* Strengthen community sector organisations to better support community resilience, response, and recovery to increasing extreme weather events.
HEALTH
* Invest in health promotion and prevention to five per cent of total health expenditure by 2025.
* Increase investment in the oral health safety net through a multi-year funding agreement.
* Abolish poorly targeted health programs, including the Private Health Insurance Rebate and the Extended Medicare Safety Net.
(Source: ACOSS)
Australian Associated Press
