CATHOLIC Social Services Australia has welcomed reports the Federal May Budget will focus on entrenched disadvantage for the most vulnerable Australians.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently told the Guardian Australia’s politics podcast he was working with social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, to identify and make a meaningful difference in disadvantaged communities.
His comments were commended by Catholic Social Services chair Australia Francis Sullivan.
“For a decade we have been waiting for a treasurer who is prepared to put vulnerable and disadvantaged communities at the centre of a Federal Budget,” Mr Sullivan said.
“We particularly welcome comments from the Treasurer that Albanese Government’s core mission is to redefine and reform our economy and institutions to make communities more resilient.
“While we will need to wait till May for the Budget to see the extent of the Government’s commitment to underprivileged communities this is the first time in many years we have heard a government talk so positively about its approach to reimagining engaging with the underprivileged.”
During the podcast, Mr Chalmers said he wanted to expand the opportunity of “impact investing” across the social purpose economy.
He said addressing entrenched disadvantage was a “decade-long passion” grounded in growing up in Logan, an outer urban area with pockets of socioeconomic disadvantage.
