Month: May 2016

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Stuart McMillan, has described the 2016-17 Federal Budget, as a “missed opportunity” to alleviate poverty and disadvantage at home and around the world.

”There is not nearly enough in this Budget to assist the most vulnerable,” said Stuart.

“It is deeply disappointing that planned cuts to foreign aid are going ahead, leaving some of the world’s poorest people without the life-changing – often life-saving – assistance that comes with Australian aid.

“The Budget also contains no new social programs aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are the most persistently disadvantaged Australians.

UnitingCare Australia Associate National Director Martin Cowling has said that the 2016 Budget paints a selective picture of living within our means, with cuts to health, aged care and disability payments outweighing new spending in these areas by at least $1 billion over four years.

Martin said it was pleasing that the Budget contains three positive measures for which UnitingCare has been advocating for some time.

“We particularly welcome the Youth Jobs PaTH program and will work with the Government through its Try, Test and Learn Fund.

“It is also pleasing that the Government is committing to programs designed to help those most at risk of long term welfare dependency and that the PaTH program contains a strong focus on equipping young people with essential work skills.

“UnitingCare strongly welcomes the reforms to superannuation tax concessions which will deliver a critical $6 billion revenue stream. We have been calling for these for almost a decade” said Martin.