State Budget provides cost-of-living relief, but misses the opportunity to tackle enduring social and economic challenges for low-income Victorians

Victoria’s social and community services peak body, the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), has welcomed a State Budget with its sights firmly set on driving down the cost of household basics like food, transport and energy. 

VCOSS highlighted positive measures including: 

• Targeted support for kids to participate fully in school and extracurricular activities, through the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund and more Get Active Kids vouchers. 

• Continued investment in Best Start Best Life – which includes delivery of free kinder – and funding for equitable learning initiatives in schools. 

• Some great targeted energy investments, including a further targeted round of the Power Saving Bonus, more rebates for hot water heat pumps, and money for the rollout of ceiling insulation. 

• More resources for the state’s vital food relief services. 

VCOSS CEO, Juanita Pope, said “We love that kids will be able to travel for free across the public transport network – especially kids who would otherwise struggle to get to school. As well as good transport policy, this is a crime prevention measure: it will keep kids from getting sucked into the justice system through fines they can’t afford to pay.” 

However, this is also a budget that expands prison beds while under-investing in addressing the root causes of offending. 

 “Investment in prevention and early intervention to keep people out of the criminal justice system is eclipsed by the $1.6 billion invested into prisons and punitive measures. This Budget misses a chance to make the whole community safer."

This Budget also does little to help Victorians who are struggling to get or keep a roof over their heads. 

“Instead of growing prisons, we should grow social housing. Victoria needs to build 80,000 social homes over the next 10 years to catch up to the national average of 4.5 per cent. We’ll keep engaging with Government over the next budget cycle to unlock that vital investment.” 

Ms Pope added that social and community services should be a priority for the Government’s industry policy and economic growth agenda.  

“While this Budget keeps the lights on for frontline services, it fails to invest in the system architecture and new ideas needed to address rising inequality.” 

"VCOSS will continue to advocate strongly to the Victorian Government for investment in the systems and services that change people’s lives and lift them out of poverty and crisis."