Media Release - Budget Lacks Vision For Long Term Investment

Catholic Social Services Australia's Executive Director, Frank Quinlan, said some of tonight's Budget measures will make life a bit easier for some families and lower income Australians in the short term.

But, Mr Quinlan said, the Treasurer's budget speech, which laid out challenges for the next ten years, failed to detail how Australia's most disadvantaged people would participate in the long term prosperity of the country.

Education
"Low income earners will only share in the substantial investment in education if that investment is matched by similar long term initiatives in health care, affordable housing and early intervention," Mr Quinlan said.

Dental Health
"It's a sad reflection on society when poor dental health alone is not enough to justify access to dental care. The dental health initiatives will only assist those who have become so sick that they need medical care for related conditions.

Tax Cuts
"A tax cut of $16 a week for average income earners, while welcome, will help pay the grocery bill but does little to secure long term access to affordable housing. Tax cuts do nothing to ease the burden of those receiving benefits or pensions who currently live in poverty and struggle every day just to make ends meet.

"While initiatives aimed at relieving hardship through education are welcome, the Government has missed an opportunity in these good times to invest significantly in social infrastructure in areas such as health and housing for the long term benefit of the country, particularly in areas of high disadvantage," Mr Quinlan said.  

Catholic Social Services will provide an analysis of the budget measures not addressed in the Treasurer's speech as details become available.

Catholic Social Services Australia provides services to over a million Australians each year.

For the full set of Budget Papers, including the Treasurer's speech, please click here.  

8 May 2007

CONTACT      Judith Tokley               02 6285 1366 / 0408 824 306