Budget 2012 fails to support marginalised women
Equality Rights Alliance, Australia’s largest network of organisations advocating for women’s equality, is pleased to see an increase in the tax free threshold and superannuation reforms that will benefit low income workers, and increased Age Pensions. But the Alliance is disappointed in the lack of investment in an affordable rental housing, and concerned that women who are not in the paid workforce will be left behind in changes intended to protect Australians' standard of living.
“The current global economic uncertainty means too many Australians are worried about how they can keep a roof over their head. We already have 44,000 women couch surfing every night because they don’t have safe, secure, sustainable, affordable housing. The Federal Government have missed an opportunity to support those struggling on low incomes, while also encouraging housing developers to shift focus into the affordable end of the market,” says Helen Dalley-Fisher, Program Manager at Equality Rights Alliance.
"The biggest benefits of the tax and superannuation changes will go to those already in paid work, widening the gap between the lowest income households and higher income households," says
Emma Davidson, Project Coordinator at Equality Rights Alliance.
"Further marginalising women on low incomes, such as pushing more people onto Newstart Allowance from Parenting Payment in 2013 but not increasing the JET childcare and training assistance until 2016, does not deliver a stronger, fairer future. The Schoolkids Bonus is easier to access than the Education Tax Refund, but misses the opportunity to target payments at those who need them most. And funding for Indigenous Law and Justice Programs has been cut, such as $4.5m from the Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Program," says Ms Davidson.
More than sixty three Australian women’s organisations endorsed Equality Rights Alliance’s Pre-Budget Submission (online at www.equalityrightsalliance.org.au), which included recommendations on affordable housing, tax reform and superannuation, and violence against women.
"When so many organisations, with such a diversity of views, collectively ask Government to consider investment in affordable housing, you can bet this is an issue affecting a broad range of
people in the community,” says Ms Davidson. “Our recommendations included suggestions that would have raised almost $2b in revenue to fund investment in an Affordable Housing Growth Fund. We also asked for very modest funding of just a few hundred thousand dollars for new programs to prevent violence against women, and we're disappointed that this important work is not funded."
“We are pleased to see government commit to tax changes and superannuation reforms that will better protect the future retirement incomes of women in low paid work. But it’s hard not to be disappointed at their silence on our recommendations for investment in affordable rental housing when the Mineral Resources Rent Tax is expected to deliver $3b in new revenue in 2012-13,” Ms Davidson said.
