The 2023-24 State Budget released on 15 June aims to prioritise housing, health and cost of living relief while ‘investing in the state’s economic future’. Each new federal and state budget is an opportunity for governments to make a commitment to address issues people are experiencing. With the new State Budget prioritising housing, health and cost of living relief, we looked at how young people and the issues they’re experiencing were considered in those areas.
Cost of living
A series of ‘cost of living relief’ measures featured in the budget including energy bill relief with eligible households receiving up to $500 rebates on power bills, increased concessions in line with inflation, and support for families receiving family tax benefit.
More and more young people report living week to week and forgoing essentials like food and healthcare. With current concession eligibility, many young people will miss out on budgeted cost of living relief. YACSA believes adequately supporting young people with the cost of living requires us recognise the current generational disparity and the need to work with young people to develop supportive policy measures.
Health
The State Government is providing $30.8 million over four years ($7.7 million per year) to permanently extend to the Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service as an alternative to attending emergency departments. While this is a welcome approach to overcrowded ED’s, the service is aimed and parents of children aged 6 months to 18 years so it won’t be available to independent young people.
YACSA continues to advocate for governments to invest in increasing the availability and accessibility of mental healthcare services by funding evidence-based local community mental health and wellbeing supports including dedicated youth programs.
Housing
The State Government is removing stamp duty for eligible first home buyers seeking to purchase a home of up to $650,000 and for first home buyers purchasing vacant land valued at up to $400,000 to build a new home. The State Government estimates this will assist 3,800 first home buyers.
While many first home buyers will be supported with this budget measure, it will have a limited effect for young people. YACSA reaffirms that the availability of affordable rental housing must be considered a priority by government. A continued lack of support for renters and missed opportunities to address accessibility and affordability issues via recent review of the Residential Tenancies Act is impacting young people disproportionately as they are the most likely of any age cohort to rent.
The vast majority of young people remain locked out of home ownership between property prices, interest rates, unprecedented student debt and making less money than older generations.
Other notable inclusions for young people:
We’re glad to see investment of $1.1m over two years to continue the child diversion program diverting Aboriginal children and young people from the youth justice system.
An extra magistrate will be added to the Youth Court along with additional associated support staff to address increased workloads is welcomed, especially given most young people in AYTC are generally detained on remand, meaning they’re awaiting court proceedings.
However, given the current situation within the Adelaide Youth Training Centre, it’s incredibly disappointing to not see any measures aimed at staffing shortages or Investment in community-led programs and services that keep young people safe, supported and out of the youth justice system altogether.
To summarise
Overall, this budget does little to address intergenerational inequality particularly in the context of the current cost of living and rental crises. This generation of young people will be the first to be worse off than their parents and State and Federal governments have the power to do something about that. The 2023-24 State Budget is another missed opportunity to do so.
If you need some extra support, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the below:
Lifeline 13 11 14 & webchat 24/7
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 & webchat 24/7
13 YARN (13 19 76) Crisis support for First Nations people 24/7
