Low income households gain concessions in budget

MEDIA RELEASE

14/6/11

Some low income households in Queensland will receive greater concessions following today’s state budget. The Queensland Council of Social Service has been advocating for better support for low income houses and continues to call for these concessions to be extended further.

  “The extra concessions announced in today’s budget will provide valuable support for Queenslanders with a pension card,” says QCOSS President Karyn Walsh. “Removing the ambulance levy will also be a great help for struggling Queenslanders. In a tough budget year this extra funding is very welcome. We believe it is a step towards helping all low income households.

 “QCOSS continues to call for further efforts to address the needs of other low income households who are missing the support they need. The households who aren’t eligible for concessions will continue to fall further and further behind as their needs aren’t met.

 “We continue to call for a comprehensive review of concessions in Queensland to ensure all people who need support with the rising cost of living can receive it,” says Karyn.

 QCOSS also welcomes the $93m boost to the National Rental Affordability Scheme, increased incentives to build affordable rental accommodation and the 3.75 per cent funding indexation to community services.

  “While the budget offers some relief to families struggling with cost of living increases we need a comprehensive plan to address poverty and disadvantage in this state,” says QCOSS Director Jill Lang. “Queensland cannot afford to have an ever-increasing number of families slipping into poverty.

 “Evidence tells us that fairer societies do better – health costs and crime go down while productivity goes up. The only way to create a fairer Queensland is through ensuring disadvantaged members of our community have an adequate standard of living with access to basics like housing, power, transport and food.

 “While today’s budget announcements are welcome, QCOSS will continue to campaign for additional investment to make Queensland a fairer state,” says Jill

 For 50 years QCOSS has strived to promote social justice through working to eliminate inequality and disadvantage. The Queensland Council of Social Service represents 700 organisations and individuals throughout the state.

Jill Lang 0412 164 251, Karyn Walsh 0413 619 785

Mark Jeffery 0419 732 583, Ian Wynne 0414 643 122