Andrew Leigh

HON LINDA BURNEY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES
MEMBER FOR BARTON

ANDREW LEIGH MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR TREASURY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER CHARITIES
MEMBER FOR FENNER

EMERGENCY RELIEF BOOST WELCOME BUT PAYMENTS STILL NEEDED SOONER

The boost in emergency relief funding for food banks and financial counselling services announced today is important and welcome step, which Labor has been calling for.

But many families facing the loss of a job or being stood down will still be waiting at least a month to get the $550 per fortnight Coronavirus supplement.

It is important that the Government does everything possible to reduce and avoid the need for people to seek emergency relief in the first place.

Labor is calling on the government to bring forward the Coronavirus Supplement which currently commences on 27 April and the Second Economic Support Payment, which will not be available until 10 July.

People who have lost their job or been stood down need help and support now – not months in the future.

The Government also needs to urgently address the crisis confronting not-for-profit and charity organisations more broadly – which represents an estimated $129 billion of the Australian economy.

Australia’s charities and not-for-profits – which employ 800,000 people directly and another 500,000 indirectly – have been hit by a double whammy of falling donations and increasing demand for their services.

For many isolated Australians, community organisations are their only link to services and community.

Australians are facing loneliness, joblessness and financial stress. Charities and non-profits need to be supported so they can help meet these challenges.

ENDS

Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra.