The Morrison Government is delivering an unprecedented boost to services supporting women, children and vulnerable Australians.
Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz said the Morrison Government is standing up for our most vulnerable Australians, whether they be women and children at risk of or experiencing violence, people who had lost their jobs during the pandemic, survivors of child sexual abuse, those with a disability or the elderly.
“As a Government, we want all Australians to share equally in the opportunities our economic recovery is delivering, and we understand that means providing additional support to those within the community who need it.
“Australia is the lucky country and many amongst us face additional challenges and barriers – that is why in Budget 2021 we’re providing additional support to help those Australians,” Mr Buchholz said.
Measures in the 2021-22 Federal Budget include:
- Providing a new Escaping Violence Payment to women leaving a violent relationship
- A permanent $50 per fortnight increase in the base rate of working age payments
- Making lump sum payments available to pensioners and self-funded retirees under a more flexible Pension Loans Scheme
- Responding to recommendations of the Second Anniversary Review of the National Redress Scheme
- $17.7 billion in practical and targeted new funding to significantly improve the aged care system, including another 80,000 new home care packages
- An additional $13.2 billion to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
- $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to lead landmark reform in mental health support and treatment for Australians in need.
Protecting women and children
- An unprecedented injection of about $1 billion will provide transitional support through a series of women’s safety initiatives while work is underway on the next National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. Among the initiatives is a new, two-year funding agreement where the Morrison Government will commit $260 million to partner with states and territories to boost local frontline services and trial new initiatives in the transition to the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.
- Under the package, the Government will also commit $164.8 million to establish Escaping Violence Payments to provide women up to $1,500 in immediate cash and a further $3,500 in kind for goods or direct payments of bonds, school fees or other items. The payments will be provided under a two-year trial through a domestic violence frontline service and include wrap around support for women and their children.
“This Budget secures our economic recovery, continues the momentum in our jobs comeback and provides the necessary support to those that need it most by guaranteeing essential services.
“This is a Budget that demonstrates ‘Team Australia’ at its best,” Mr Buchholz said.
ENDS
