Uninspiring Budget Delivers Little 'new News': Anglicare Victoria

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12th May 2010, 02:56pm - Views: 943





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Further enquiries contact: 

Damian Neylon, Chairman of the Board of Anglicare Victoria on (03) 9412 6110

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


12 May 2010

Uninspiring budget delivers little ‘new news’:

Anglicare Victoria 


The 2010/2011 federal budget has delivered very little in the way of new funding to

tackle issues close to the heart of many Australian families including housing,

education and child care Anglicare Victoria said today.


“There is very little new news in this rather uninspiring but not unexpected budget,”

said Anglicare Victoria CEO, Dr Ray Cleary.


“We welcome the announcement of $26.5 million over four years to help the

forgotten Australians reconnect with their biological families and we support other

initiatives such as the paid parental leave scheme.”


But Dr Cleary questioned the $410 million over six years to extend income

management measures as the scheme is yet to prove itself successful and has been

criticised by many as paternalistic.


“We welcome the expansion of services such as financial counselling, education and

budgeting as well as the matched saving payment to help families control their

spending but remain opposed to income management,” said Dr Cleary.


“It is a blunt tool and a potentially punitive measure that does little to improve a

family’s ability to manage its own affairs without further education and support.


“A family’s ability to manage its own finances is inexorably linked to the cost of

housing, transport, utilities and other basic services. 


“Any policy to improve outcomes for our most disadvantaged families must address

this web of issues and not seek to simply punish those unable to cope.” 


In other areas, Anglicare welcomed the $660 million over four years for vocational

education including spending on skill development, apprenticeships and numeracy,

literacy and language courses but questioned the Rudd Government’s ability to

deliver on their promises after failing to meet many over the past 12 months.


“Last year’s targets for housing and education have not been met,” said Dr Cleary.

“Are this year’s number ‘pie in the sky’ dreaming or are they really deliverable?


“We will have to wait and see.” 


-ends-






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