The Federal Government's National Fuel Security Plan must deliver targeted relief to people on low incomes and support for the frontline services they depend on, especially in regional, rural and remote communities.
Urgent consultations on the crisis by ACOSS revealed its national members are already experiencing serious impacts to essential service delivery, including disruptions to food and material aid, reduced worker capacity due to travel costs and growing risks of people being cut off from vital support altogether.
While steps to boost fuel supply are welcome and should ease short-term pressures, ongoing global uncertainty in oil and gas means prices will remain volatile, as will supply. Without a more active and targeted government response, people on low incomes risk being pushed further into hardship while essential community organisations will struggle to maintain their services.
ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said the community sector is ready to work constructively with the government to ensure the national response is impactful, timely and holistic.
"Community services are critical to Australia's response to crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2019/20 catastrophic bushfires and now major disruptions to fuel and supply chains. We bring urgent, real-time insights from communities across the country," Dr Goldie said. "At this stage, ACOSS is calling for immediate, targeted income support, fuel security measures and other support that protect frontline community services, and responsible revenue measures to fund immediate relief.
"We understand that the best relief measures are targeted to those most exposed to the flow-on impacts, in the most efficient way possible. Nationally, this means lifting income support payments and urgently increasing the Remote Area Allowance for communities facing acute shortages."
ACOSS acknowledges the National Fuel Security Plan's focus on protecting critical services. We will work to ensure this incorporates the experiences of frontline community services delivering essential support to people in financial distress, disadvantage and hardship.
"Community services are essential services and our sector is a trusted national voice, and must be recognised and supported as part of any successful national response." Dr Goldie said.
"Alleviating immediate financial distress also requires responsible revenue raising to offset the fiscal effects. As a result, we strongly urge the government to reform overly generous capital gains tax concessions and ensure fairer taxation on windfall profits from gas exports.
"We're ready to work with government every day to get Australia's policy response right, and that includes staying firmly focused on protecting people on the lowest incomes."
