Investing in our future
The Queensland Council of Social Service says $258m is needed in next year's state budget for programs aimed at people experiencing disadvantage in Queensland. And they believe the money will be well spent because it reduces the need to spend many times this amount on crisis programs.
"Prevention is always better than cure," says QCOSS Director Jill Lang. "$258m is modest compared to the billions of dollars needed to fix up a crisis that results from social problems that escalate out of control. It is also small when you look at how much is being spent on physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges and tunnels.
"Australia looks like it has escaped most of the effects of the global economic crisis and will emerge pretty well unscathed compared to many other parts of the world. The Prime Minister often says we are not out of the woods yet.
"However, without support, there are many Queenslanders who will never be out of the woods when it comes to social disadvantage," says Jill.
The comprehensive submission to the state government about spending priorities for the next state budget covers poverty and equality, employment, prevention & early intervention services for stronger families, the right to an adequate standard of living including health, transport and affordable energy, as well as the need to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-representation in the child protection system.
Approximately 18 state ministers and MPs join community sector workers for the launch.
"We welcome the state government's Towards Q2 initiative," says QCOSS President Karyn Walsh. "We now call on the Queensland government to expand Towards Q2 to include a fair Queensland action plan.
"The submission recommends many other measures to reduce poverty and social exclusion. This includes a human rights act for Queensland that considers the rights of people in poverty," says Karyn.
