Federal Budget 2020-2021

The federal budget is the government’s primary opportunity to set the conditions under which people will pursue full, meaningful and rewarding lives. Everyone has the right to an environment - social, economic and natural - in which it is possible to flourish and thrive. Therefore, the success of any budget is measured by its social impact as well as its economic consequences.

Instead of the usual 12 months between Federal Budgets, this year, we have had almost 16 months. That has given us all time to highlight the big challenges we are facing and the importance of combined action to overcome them. The AASW calls on the federal government to use this budget to address global warming, overcome inequality and promote Reconciliation.

AASW PRE- BUDGET SUBMISSIONS

Submission to Treasury

The AASW submitted to the annual call by the federal treasury for submissions concerning what should be in the federal budget. In summary, our recommendations were focused on:

• Climate action and the SDG’s
• Bushfire response and recovery
• The right to adequate standard of living.  
• Reconciliation 
• Mental health
• People living with Disability
• Family violence
• Homelessness
• Aged care

Submission to COVID-19 Inquiry

In April, the AASW submitted to the Senate’s inquiry into the government’s handling of COVID-19. In hat document we noted that The pandemic provides an opportunity to review what kind of society we want to be, and as a crisis, it is a pivotal opportunity to create long term and sustainable change described our vision for reconstructing a just, sustainable and inclusive Australia.

In summary, our recommendations were:

• The creation of a social safety net that supports people to move out of poverty, instead of entrenching it.
• Mental health reform, ensuring a person centred, human-rights based, multifaceted and systemic approach.
• Action on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Establish a Voice to Parliament as described in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
• Address the system interface issues faced by people with psycho-social disability and the mental health system, and the drug and alcohol service sector.
• That governments lead a substantial investment in social and affordable housing and a strategy to ensure that everyone in Australia has access to safe, affordable housing.
• That federal and state governments adopt the recommendations of the Victorian Royal Commission into Family violence as a framework for reform, and commit to implementing them.
• Commit to end homelessness, paying particular attention to women and children needing to escape from family violence, and older single women.
• That the government commit to ACOSS’s proposal for economic recovery, and work with all stakeholders on implementation to achieve fair and equitable outcomes.
• That the Workplace Gender Equity Agency(WGEA) be funded monitor the gendered impact of COVID-19 and to provide a framework for a systemic national Gender Equity strategy. welcome the opportunity to discuss any of the points raised in this submission further with the Committee.

You can read that submission here.

Our position statements on key social policy issues are available here.

AASW MEDIA RELEASES

Federal budget is an opportunity to outline plans for building a just and inclusive Australia.

AASW National President, Christine Craik has called on the Federal Government to use the upcoming Budget to focus on issues crucial for constructing an Australia that is better for everyone.

“Overcoming inequality, addressing global warming and promoting Reconciliation are the three of the most important steps in shaping a just and inclusive Australia. This Budget is the Government’s chance to start this process,” she said.

You can read our pre-Budget media release here, our post-Budget media release here, and our media release focusing on Budget mental health initiatives here.

BUDGET OUTCOMES FOR SOCIAL WORK