As our climate changes, natural disasters and emergencies are likely to become more frequent and more extreme. In this submission we call on the Government to recognise community service organisations as vital partners in preparedness, response and recovery from emergencies, provide more flexible contingency funding to meet community need after a disaster, fund disaster readiness, and support volunteer capacity.
Submission on Deductible Gift Recipient Registers Reform
In this submission, Anglicare Australia supports calls from the Stronger Charities Alliance for more holistic DGR reform by simplifying and extending the availability of DGR status to all charities registered with the ACNC.
Submission to the Inquiry into the Extent and Nature of Poverty in Australia
This submission calls for an immediate increase to social security payments,to lift people out of poverty and action to address the crisis in affordable housing that is driving many people into poverty.
Submission to the National Energy Performance Strategy
In this submission we call on the Australian Government to invest in measures that will reduce emissions, benefit rental and low-income households and make sure the benefits are felt fairly across the community. The Government can ensure that no one is left behind, and that those least able to afford it are not left to bear the cost of ageing infrastructure and soaring energy prices, while also taking strides to transition Australia into a clean energy economy.
Submission on Measuring What Matters
A truly prospering society is not only one where everyone can access the basics of food, housing and a liveable income, but also where people are happy and healthy. Yet in reality, Australia is facing growing inequality, with the cost of living rising faster than wages or income support payments. If we do not change course, we risk leaving many Australians behind and denying them a stake in our prosperity, and indeed in compromising that prosperity for all.
In this submission, Anglicare Australia commends the government’s commitment to creating a Wellbeing Framework to prioritise equitable, sustainable, and holistic outcomes over economic growth. It also recommends the inclusion of indicators that focus on equity gaps, considering lived experience in design and consultation, and ensuring effective oversight and accountability.
Pre-Budget Submission 2023-24
The submission includes a plan for the next Federal Budget to tackle poverty by raising the rate of JobSeeker and other key payments. The submission includes costings showing that JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, and Carer Payment could all be raised to $88 per day. This would pull almost 2.3 million Australians out of poverty, including 840,000 children. We also lay out plans for aged care, housing, tax, community services, disability, and mental health.
Submission to the Housing Legislative Package
In this submission, Anglicare Australia supports the Government’s desire to show leadership on housing, but says that their plan does not match the scale of the housing crisis. We call for more investment to end Australia’s social housing shortfall, which is 500,000 homes across the country.
Regulating Buy Now, Pay Later in Australia
Joint submission of 22 consumer organisations who make up the Close Lending Loopholes Coalition, including Australia’s leading consumer advocates, charities, community groups, legal centres, family violence organisations, and financial counselling practitioners.
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) credit products exploit loopholes in Australia’s credit law to sell people into unaffordable debt. This unregulated credit industry is causing serious economic and social harm to people, families and households across the country.
We recommend Option 3 be implemented to apply full regulation of BNPL under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (the Credit Act), and the National Credit Code (the Credit Code). We also support applying additional consumer protections beyond what is outlined in Option 3.
Submission to Workforce Australia (Parents Next)
Anglicare Australia believes that parents and children should be supported. The responsibility involved in caring for children should be valued in and of itself. Anglicare Australia maintains significant concerns about the ParentsNext program, which is mandatory for some people living on Parenting Payment. These relate to the compulsory nature of the program and its punitive and disproportionate Targeted Compliance Framework. Anglicare Australia calls for the Targeted Compliance Framework to be abolished, and recommends that the ParentsNext program be redesigned as voluntary and person-centred pre-employment support program.
Submission to the Employment White Paper
Unemployment has declined, and many believe the employment market is thriving. In spite of this, the number of people with barriers to work seeking employment has barely budged. Those who need the most help to find work, and those who are long-term unemployed, are not benefitting from the recovery in the labour force. In this submission, Anglicare Australia calls for a renewed focus on direct job creation, particularly in entry-level roles, focusing on sectors with high projected demand for workers. It also recommends a major overhaul of employment services to focus on delivering real outcomes, instead of simply administering breaches and obligations. In the meantime, it will be critical to raise the rate of income payments to ensure that people do not get caught in poverty traps while they seek work.