TasCOSS has submitted its Budget Priorities Statement 2012-13 – Working for fairness in tough times –  to State Treasury. This year’s Budget submission, as in previous years, was developed through consultations with TasCOSS members in the three regions, including members of the Tasmanian Social Policy Council, and with others in the Tasmanian community services sector.

The submission was developed in the context of the current constrained financial position of the Tasmanian Government and differs from past Budget submissions in that it makes recommendations for low or no cost actions that the Government can make to improve outcomes for low income and disadvantaged Tasmanians. It also makes recommendations for maximising State revenue.

The submission does, however, call for essential spending now to ease cost of living pressures on those Tasmanians who are struggling to meet basic expenses, and spending to appropriately support the community services sector that supports Tasmanians in need. We also call for the State Government to commit to funding increases in community services sector wages in accordance with the outcomes of the Equal Pay case currently before Fair Work Australia and to plan now to meet that commitment.

 Working for fairness in tough times: TasCOSS Budget Priorities  Statement 2012-13