2022/23 State Budget Policy Conversation Presentation Slides

2022/23 State Budget Post-Budget Policy Conversation w/ TasCOSS and Prof Richard Eccleston (Institute for Social Change, UTAS)

Housing Key Takeaways: • The Budget includes a $1.5 billion housing package. o The Government aims to build/acquire 10,000 homes by 2023 which is consistent with Shelter Tasmania’s request for 1,000 homes per year. o But the Government’s record of delivering its targets of new builds suggests it will struggle to deliver 1,000 homes a year. o We hope the funding in the Budget to boost the construction workforce speeds up delivery.

• Funding has been allocated for Safe Spaces (24-hour homelessness services) in the South, North and North-West but only for one-year, which is concerning. o This week the Government announced funding for an additional 22 places across the state.

• Shelter Tasmania have called for greater commitment to supporting women and families who are experiencing housing uncertainty and homelessness, as well as the need for a specific women’s housing strategy.

2022/23 State Budget Analysis with Richard Eccleston | 2 June 2022

tascoss.org.au

Health Key Takeaways: • Nothing further to add to our commentary from last Thursday night, except to say that funding for preventive health is again well below the 5% of the health spend.

• Even the National Preventive Health Strategy (2021-30) says that preventive health spending is too low — significantly lower than other countries with similar health systems such as Canada (over 6%) and the UK (over 5%).

2022/23 State Budget Analysis with Richard Eccleston | 2 June 2022

tascoss.org.au

Mental Health Key Takeaways: • $52 million in Commonwealth and State funding for new or expanded initiatives, including for implementation of Rethink.

• What’s missing were targeted workforce initiatives, particularly in the context of additional programs that have been promised (e.g. 3 adult Head to Health clinics, 3 Head to Health kids centres, 3 eating disorder day programs, universal aftercare services for post-suicide support, a new Headspace in the south and an expansion of clinical capacity across other Headspace centres).

• There is a need for a coordinated, sector-wide approach to workforce challenges, across community, public, primary and private services, to ensure a responsive workforce that meets the mental health needs of all Tasmanians.

2022/23 State Budget Analysis with Richard Eccleston | 2 June 2022

tascoss.org.au

Disability Key Takeaways: • No significant new spending for people with disabilities or the disability support sector.

• Additional funds for the Disability Services Commissioner are welcome (increased by $400,000 per year). o But there’s concern about appointing an interim Commissioner without the legislative base for its operations.

• The Budget included announcements relating to funding for disability advocacy services (including Speakout Advocacy, Advocacy Tasmania and the Association for Children with Disability), but the funding allocated to these services is minimal compared to the amount invested in the Public Trustee ($8.6 million). o The funding for disability advocacy organisations won’t be enough to meet unmet demand. o Advocacy Tasmania reports that currently, 83% of Tasmanians are unrepresented in Guardianship and Administration hearings. o A number of recent media reports have highlighted the high number of unrepresented clients in NDIS appeals.

• No funding allocated to recognise or compensate the Tasmanians who were impacted by the maladministration of the Public Trustee.

2022/23 State Budget Analysis with Richard Eccleston | 2 June 2022

tascoss.org.au

Family and Sexual Violence Key Takeaways: • Continued funding for specialist services welcome (particularly the extension of funding to allow for five-year contracts).

• There’s a need for greater coordination within the sector, which could have been addressed by the dedicated coordination and policy officer role (TasCOSS 2022/23 Budget Priorities Statement).

• Concern about the lack of designated funding for primary prevention compared to tertiary/police interventions. o And more investment to support people who have barriers accessing services (e.g. people with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people living in regional and remote locations). o The third Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan is an opportunity to address this.

• Also concern about the proposed Multidisciplinary Centres (MDCs) which will have a police presence — this could reduce the impact of the service because some marginalised communities won’t feel comfortable attending due to historically complicated relationships with the police, such as Aboriginal or LGBTQIA+ Tasmanians.

2022/23 State Budget Analysis with Richard Eccleston | 2 June 2022

tascoss.org.au

Children and Young People Key Takeaways: • Positive announcements (some reannouncements).

• YNOT Transition to Adulthood program.

• Additional staff for Ashley, additional staff for Commission of Inquiry.

• Pleased to see funding for Safeguarding Children and young people, youth justice reform project team.

• Although questions remain about the Safeguarding Officers in schools — will they be Department of Education teaching staff? What qualifications and training will be required?

• Concerned that the IFES program has only been funded for one-year — the program evaluation shows its success and it should be funded beyond oneyear.

• $2 million for MC1D is not enough and not consistent with the recommendations. The transition requires systemic change to a therapeutic model and will require significantly more.

2022/23 State Budget Analysis with Richard Eccleston | 2 June 2022

tascoss.org.au

Cost of Living – Options for Government Concessions: • Review Tasmania's concessions scheme — is it adequate?

• Include a telecommunications concession — internet access is now an essential service alongside energy and water, so should be included in the concessions scheme.

• Consider cost of living payments to concession card holders.

Private Rentals: • Review the Residential Tenancy Act so it is fit for purpose — for example, minimum standards for heating and insulation to reduce energy costs.

Transport: • Free bus travel for concession card holders, seniors and students.

• Support for people on low incomes with petrol/car registration?

Food: • Expand the school lunch program to all Tasmanian Government schools.

• Invest in community-based food security initiatives as part of a statewide food systems strategy.

Fines: • Introduce a concessional fines scheme — discounts on fines for people in special circumstances.

2022/23 State Budget Analysis with Richard Eccleston | 2 June 2022

tascoss.org.au