While the Government has openly acknowledged this was going to be a tough Budget, even in challenging economic times, the goal of every budget must be to ensure all Tasmanians can afford the basics. However, this Budget fails to do this.

On Tuesday 9 May 2023, the Treasurer, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, handed down the latest Federal Budget. Read TasCOSS’s reaction and responses from across the community services industry.

Homelessness data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) yesterday should serve as a wake-up call for the Tasmanian Government.

Tasmanian households have amassed $13.6 million of household energy debt as a $33 million allocation for energy bill relief sits in government coffers.

TasCOSS welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s $33 million commitment towards energy bill relief, but is calling for the funds to be immediately released as new figures reveal the number of Tasmanians in energy debt has doubled in the past year.

Tasmania’s community services industry has today launched a new campaign for a fair and reasonable funding increase from the Tasmanian Government.

Read the reactions and responses from across the industry.

While this budget demonstrates a significant change in approach towards building a more inclusive society, there is very little by way of immediate relief which will help Tasmanians struggling with the ever-increasing costs of living.