Community groups in Canberra demanding halt to harmful Budget measures

Dr Cassandra Goldie, representatives of community sector organisations and people directly affected by Budget social security changes

When: 11.30am, Wednesday 27th August, 2014

Where: Senate Courtyard, Parliament House, Canberra

The Australian Council of Social Service is leading a large delegation of community sector representatives to Canberra on Wednesday, to call on their elected representatives to reject harmful social security changes in this year's Budget.

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie will be joined by representatives from community welfare agencies as well as people directly affected by Budget changes, to highlight the impact of proposals, including:

• removing income support for six months of the year for young people looking for work;
• the transfer of 22-24 year olds from the Newstart payment to the lower Youth Allowance;
• reducing indexation of pension payments;
• reducing assistance to low income families, including sole parent families, through changes to family payments.

The delegation of 50 community representatives will meet with parliamentarians throughout the day. It will also release a statement signed by more than 100 community organisations from around the country expressing serious concerns about unfair budget measures and urging parliament to reject those changes which will adversely affect people on low incomes.

The delegation will offer to partner with government in a process of responsible reform to the tax and transfer systems to ensure we can maintain a robust system of supports and services into the future.