ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie said:
"We always knew this was going to be an election budget. In the lead up, we have welcomed some important investments in essential services, including health, public education and early childhood education.
"We're astounded that the centrepiece of tonight's budget is more dollars for everyone except those with the least.
"Only a year after the last tax cuts, the government is announcing a new set.
"We need a budget and an election that sets us up for the future. The last thing we need is a bidding war on more tax cuts.
"In the face of a serious cost-of-living crisis and overwhelming evidence to fix JobSeeker, to give $7b in tax cuts and do nothing to lift people out of poverty is simply shocking.
"This budget has welcome investments in health, public education and care services, which help to restore years of cuts. Expanding bulk billing and boosting spending on public education will help communities around the country. The women's health budget measures are good to see and address some of the gaps in our healthcare system. The guarantee of three days' early learning is most welcome, especially for families on very low incomes.
"The question for the next government is: how do you keep paying for these critical services upon which we all rely?
"We don't have a spending problem. We have a revenue problem. Governments can't continue to waste over $30 billion a year on super and capital gains tax breaks for people in the to 10% of incomes.
"We need to close these gaps in the tax and revenue base to meet the community's needs ongoing.
"We also need to ensure help goes to people who need it most. The government's total $6.8b spend on energy bill rebates could have funded energy upgrades for every social housing property in Australia, permanently reducing bills by thousands of dollars each year.
"As Australia heads toward an election, ACOSS calls on all parties and candidates who wish to form government to embrace an ambitious vision that leaves no one behind.
"People in Australia are yearning for more substantial reform. They've weathered difficult times and deserve a government willing to make bold investments in our shared future."
