A $10 billion social and affordable housing fund forms the centre of Labor’s response to the latest federal budget.
Social services advocates have praised the proposed measure as a “solid start” to assist vulnerable Australians, including women and children escaping domestic violence.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the party would prioritise green jobs with a multi-million dollar package for apprentices working in renewable energy and associated fields.
A $10 billion future fund guaranteeing social housing to vulnerable Australians forms the centrepiece of Labor’s federal budget response, which social services advocates say is a welcome but incomplete alternative to the Morrison government’s economic plan.
Budget focus on unemployment and care service funding ‘extremely welcome’ 12/05/2021|7min
Australian Council of Social Services CEO Cassandra Goldie told Sky News the focus on bringing down unemployment and the investment in care services in the federal budget is “extremely welcome”.
“We’ve got the treasurer again saying this morning the searing focus is on bringing down long-term unemployment and focusing on that unemployment target,” she said.
“Right now, we’ve got 700,000 people who are long term unemployed and still the big picture on the labour market is there’s only one job available for seven people who are looking for a job or more paid hours.
Last modified on Wed 12 May 2021 02.34 EDT
Fewer jobseekers will have face-to-face meetings with employment services providers when the jobactive program is scrapped next year, in a digital overhaul that will cut government spending on employment services by $860.4m.
Despite the pandemic pushing more people into the employment services system, the four-year savings continue the trend of cutting spending in the area, after last year’s budget also banked about $1.4bn.
The budget papers show the flagship jobactive program will be replaced by a so-called “New Employment Services Model” from July 2022 that will allow the “most job-ready jobseekers to manage their job search requirements online”.
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New migrants will be forced to wait four years before accessing most government welfare payments under a significant cost-cutting measure included in Tuesday’s federal budget.
The government will save $671 million over five years by applying the four-year Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period to anyone granted permanent residency in Australia from 1 January next year.
The duration of the waiting period to receive welfare payments previously depended on a migrant’s situation and visa type, but the new measure brings most government subsidies and visa classes in line with the current four-year wait to access JobSeeker, Austudy, and youth allowance payments.
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Single parents buying their first home may soon be able to with a deposit of only two per cent under a new federal scheme.
The program allows first home buyers to obtain a loan for a new or newly-built home with a deposit of as little as two per cent with the government guaranteeing up to 18 per cent of the loan.
Under the measure announced ahead of Tuesday s federal budget, up to 10,000 first-time buyers with dependants will be able to access the scheme over four years.
Minster for Women s Economic Security Jane Hume says the aim is to make the great Australian dream accessible for single mothers.