Focusing on the federal budget

The sector reveals its key priorities as Albo prepares to hand down his next federal budget this May.

The Albanese Labor government is just weeks away from handing down its first full-sized budget, and for-purpose organisations are coming out of the woodwork to make their case for funding support.

Continuing our ongoing coverage, Pro Bono News brings you a final wrap-up of key budget asks from across the sector. It is little surprise there are a number of recurring themes that have emerged as sector priorities including addressing the cost of living and housing crises, urgent climate action and fixing Australia’s mental health system.

It comes as lobbyist, CEO and founder of communications agency Fifty Acres Jo Scard said it is unlikely that for-purpose organisations will see increased funding, and that instead, efforts should be put towards engaging the government for the 2024/25 budget.

“Our agency has been meeting with many ministers and MPs over recent weeks, and the advice seems to be the same – there won’t be much in the way of new funding in this year’s budget for organisations who are currently lobbying government,” said Scard.

“However, next year, these initiatives will be seriously considered as Labor begins to work towards a surplus, and acts on major budget and tax reform.”

Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)

The national peak body is calling on the federal government to tackle the cost of living crisis in its next budget, by raising JobSeeker to at least $76 per day as well as investing in social housing and making low-income homes more climate resilient.

“The Labor government came to power promising that no-one would be left behind. But right now people on income support are skipping meals, foregoing essential medicines and turning off their hot water just to keep a roof over their head,” said ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie. “We need a bold government now to act.”

The organisation is also advocating for the budget to address a raft of pressing issues affecting the sector including investing in quality community services; fair, fast and inclusive action on climate change; and employment opportunities for all, among others.

Clean Energy Council

The not for profit is arguing for the government to place climate action at the centre of its budget, and advance Australia’s standing as a leader in renewable energy. 

Specifically, Clean Energy Council is seeking the development of a comprehensive renewable energy superpower package that:

• sets a concrete national target for renewable energy deployment in Australia, matched by mechanisms to support the big clean energy build we require;
• develops a national electrification plan and package; and 
• stakes our early claim in the emerging green hydrogen industry.

“The task is immense, and Australia can play an outsized role in both decarbonising its own economy, and assisting other countries to decarbonise, drawing on its abundant, low-cost renewable energy resources – unequalled in the developed world – paired with our significant mineral resource endowment,” read the pre-budget submission.

Mental Health Australia

The peak mental health advocacy body is looking for a clear commitment from the government to address fundamental gaps in Australia’s mental health workforce and system, and the social issues affecting wellbeing. 

In particular, Mental Health Australia is seeking funding across key areas of lived experience leadership, a mental health workforce, a community-focused mental health system and government leadership and accountability.

“The mental health sector is calling for clear Australian government commitment to working with us in mental health reform and driving new momentum for real structural change to both meet the overwhelming needs of today, and set up better systems to prevent and address need in the future,” read the pre-budget submission.

Mission Australia

While chiefly calling for changes to Australia’s social security payment system to keep people out of poverty, Mission Australia is also advocating for further investment in both social and affordable housing and the wider community sector.

The charity, which provides national community services, wrote in its pre-budget submission that “the government should redesign the income support system to assist people to remain out of poverty”.

Settlement Services International 

Settlement Services International, a not for profit dedicated to creating a more inclusive society, has put forward nine budget proposals for reform and investment to improve migration and settlement services across the country. 

Among the recommendations, the organisation is seeking to increase the humanitarian intake to 27,000 places per annum over four years; waive, or reduce to six months, the four-year waiting period for income support for all new permanent residents; and increase free access to translation and interpreting services for clients of settlement services.

“The world is changing, and Australia’s migration system and humanitarian program need to change with it,” read the pre-budget submission.

St Vincent de Paul Society

The national anti-poverty charity joins many other organisations in the not-for-profit sector calling for a fairer tax system, increased spending on refugee support, and better investment in the housing affordability crisis.

“Our analysis over the past decades identifies key social policies areas that are driving persistent levels of poverty and disadvantage. The society believes that additional funding could address this disadvantage while stimulating economic growth,” read the pre-budget submission.

“These social policy areas include increasing the base rate of income support payments and the income threshold for income support recipients, funding the Status Resolution Support Service, increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance and finding a replacement for the successful National Rental Affordability Scheme.”

Vision 2020 Australia

Vision 2020 Australia, the national peak body for the eye health and vision care sector, has six areas of focus for this year’s federal budget:

1. Ending avoidable vision loss and blindness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
2. Increasing access to publicly funded sight-saving eye care.
3. Ensuring eye care, early intervention and education are accessible for all Australian children.
4. Strengthening health systems in the Indo-Pacific.
5. Improving accessibility and inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision.
6. Investing in Australian eye and vision research.

“Over half a million Australians are affected by vision loss and blindness… Addressing inequities in eye care will help reduce health spending and free up resources, prevent conditions and injuries that cost us more in the long term and ensure every Australian has the best possible chance of remaining independent and connected,” read the pre-budget submission’s executive summary.

Volunteering Australia

The national peak body is advocating for the upcoming budget to invest in volunteering initiatives and infrastructure to allow the sector to thrive. It is seeking five key outcomes, including:

1. Establishing a National Strategy for Volunteering Partnership Fund, which would support the implementation of the new National Strategy for Volunteering and include contributions from the volunteering ecosystem. 
2. Providing volunteering cost of living relief to help organisations to continue undertaking their vital work.
3. Implementing a National Youth Volunteering Initiative, which could mitigate against poor mental health outcomes for unemployed and underemployed young people and support pathways to paid employment. 
4. Developing a nationally coordinated approach to volunteer engagement in emergencies. 
5. Investing in the aged care volunteer workforce.