So much surplus…. so little help for the needy

Catholic Welfare Australia is disappointed that the Federal Government’s obsessive focus on a Budget surplus ignores the plight of suffering Australians.

Since this Government came to office, the Australian people have been moved more and more to a user pays system, access to basic services are decreasing and for people on low and even middle-incomes, keeping their heads above water is becoming a daily battle of survival.

“We live in a nation in which one in five children are fully reliant on income support,” said the Spokesperson for Catholic Welfare Australia, Fr Joe Caddy. “This is a crisis and this ought to have been the focus in the Budget.”

“The ‘working poor’ will also be hit by greater costs for access to higher education and medical services which shall far outweigh the minor tax cuts,” he said.

“In this his eighth Federal Budget, Treasurer Costello will boast his achievement in attaining a successive string of budget surpluses – but at what cost to the community?” said Fr Joe Caddy. “A budget surplus means there is money to spend on the domestic front, funds that could be used for job creation, more funding for child care, more family assistance to those who need it and more incentives to help people move from welfare to work.”

“However, despite years of promises this Government has delivered little in the way of welfare reform and there is nothing new here to raise our hopes,” he concluded.

Catholic Welfare Australia welcomes the ongoing funding for the Men and Family Relationships and Family Relationships Education Programs, and the extra funding directed to employment services for persons with disabilities.

For an interview please call: Jackie Brady, Communications Officer, 0417 220 779