Coronavirus Australia: Build back better on snap back says ACOSS

Australian Council of Social Services outlines economic recovery plan, including ongoing support for those struggling to re-establish careers and incomes.

CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, Cassandra Goldie.

The Australian Council of Social Services has outlined its multi-billion dollar economic recovery plan, including ongoing support for those who will struggle to re-establish careers and incomes, arguing that JobKeeper and other assistance measures should only be eased carefully and gradually.

ACOSS has said the Morrison government should strive to commence 2021 with unemployment below 10 per cent. It also suggests investing more in social security and targeting assistance at disadvantaged regions while proposing the shovelling of billions towards new social housing and home care packages.

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie on Tuesday said the coronavirus presented an opportunity to build a “better future” for the nation.

“Let’s build back better, with positive ideas that create jobs, and quickly, while strengthening communities. We can create thousands of jobs and reduce homelessness through a public infrastructure program to build social housing,” Dr Goldie said.

“We can create even more jobs, cut energy bills and tackle climate change by installing solar and improving energy efficiency in the homes of those who could otherwise not afford to make such upgrades.

ACOSS has proposed five key measures including a permanent $3.3bn increase to 2019 levels of Newstart and related allowances – a move they said could lift GDP by 0.15 per cent.

The body also advises increasing wages by 0.2 per cent to create 12,000 jobs, as well as permanently increasing JobKeeper.

“Let’s target our fiscal support to people who really need help,” she said. “With the doubling of Jobseeker widely heralded as a positive measure, we can never go back to the brutality of $40 a day for our unemployment payment, or the unnecessary, harsh treatment of people struck by unemployment.”

ACOSS has called for a $7bn public investment to build 30,000 social housing dwellings and $2.3 billion to boost home care packages for older people.

The body has also suggested a national low-income energy productivity program that installs solar and energy efficient options in the homes of low-income people, as well as providing subsidies for low income households to replace inefficient appliances.

“We can commit to preventing long term unemployment. Let’s learn from our past. We can train people up, invest in their skills and smarts, so that they make the most of job opportunities as they return,” Dr Goldie said. “We can work with employers on creating flexible, fair jobs so people with disability, older people and people caring for others, are not left behind.”