SYDWEST PUBLISHES 2023/24 PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION TO THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT

SydWest Multicultural Services has today published its submission to the Albanese Government on the issues they should consider when finalising the Commonwealth’s 2023/2024 Budget which they will hand down in May this year.

While recognising the need for fiscal restraint in this budget cycle which is essential, SydWest Chief Executive Officer, Ms Elfa Moraitakis emphasised there was still a great need for the Australian Government to undertake crucial spending to aid and support vulnerable migrant and refugee communities, as they continue to deal with and recover from the worst of the COVID pandemic.

“A primary focus of this budget must be addressing cost-of-living pressures that provides immediate financial relief, particularly with rising rental costs and some concessions for skilled workers finding it difficult to gain employment” said Ms Moraitakis.

The submission by SydWest to the Commonwealth reports that some two-thirds of its clients are spending more than 30 per cent of their income on rent with examples of households having less than $250 available each week after paying rent.

“These communities are even more vulnerable during an economic downturn than they would be otherwise. The current inflationary impacts and cost pressures are just making things so much worse” added Ms Moraitakis.

The submission to the Commonwealth is also arguing for proposed budget measures that will address specific problems migrants and refugee communities experience in areas of employment, mental health, and women and the general cost pressures faced by organisations like SydWest in delivering the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) and the Commonwealth’s Home Care Programs.

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) peoples make up almost half of Australia’s population, however CALD specific budget measures to better support them were proportionally lower in the 2022/2023 budget.

To read the submission in full here, please see  SydWestMS_Commonwealth Pre Budget Submission 2023-2024_Treasury.pdf