For Tasmanians on low incomes – waged or income support – this budget brings no joy.
A surplus of $46 billion while 120,000 Tasmanians live in poverty is not good enough.
A $46 billion surplus is not good enough when more than 3,000 Tasmanians sit on the housing waiting list and the Commonwealth Housing Debt still drains Tasmania’s ability to invest in social housing every year.
A $46 billion surplus when many Tasmanians cannot afford dental care.
And a $3 billion underspend on NDIS is insulting when Tasmanians with disabilities are trying to negotiate retention of taxi voucher schemes and fighting to get the most basic support packages they need to live a good life.
This Budget also ignores the two biggest and broadest reaching social issues in Tasmania – housing and the effective roll-out of the NDIS.
In particular the NDIS underspend of $3 billion p.a. is unconscionable when every cent of that money could be providing a better life for Tasmanians living with disability. This underspend also places pressure on service delivery organisations who are attempting to fill the gap without adequate funding to do so.
Nearly one-quarter of the budget surplus comes from spending less money than was allocated on people with disability who need it the most. This is not a part of the surplus to boast about.
Below you’ll find summaries on the major areas of the Budget with links to more information and commentary on the related peak body websites.
Please share your responses to the Budget with us by emailing Nic McBride, Manager Communications & Advocacy.
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