Don't Punish the Poor

The Salvation Army has made a national submission to the Australian senate, opposing its plans to cut benefits to hundreds of thousands of Australians living in poverty. In particular the removal of the energy supplement would reduce the already scarce incomes of 2.2 million Australians, including pensioners, single parents, single-income families and jobseekers on Newstart.

The Salvation Army’s submission to the senate’s ‘Inquiry into the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Budget Repair) Bill 2016’ said the cuts would 'unfairly focus funding cuts on vulnerable groups who can least afford to be further marginalised'.

The submission also noted that the proposed changes 'would directly and negatively impact on many of the individuals and families that The Salvation Army already supports’.

Salvation Army national commander Commissioner Floyd Tidd has stated that the ‘proposed cuts would mean that the Federal Government has ignored the needs of those living on the margins in search of budget savings. Our research shows that many of our clients survive on just $17 a day once they have paid for accommodation.

‘These welfare cuts would make life even more challenging for the many vulnerable Australians already struggling to survive.’

As well as making its own submission, The Salvation Army has joined forces with ACOSS (the Australian Council of Social Services), Mission Australia, the St Vincent de Paul Society, Anglicare Australia and Catholic Social Services Australia to oppose the cuts.