A fairer tax and welfare system

Photo: Bridget Archer MP, National President of St Vincent de Paul Society Mark Gaetani, Associate Professor Ben Phillips and Alicia Payne MP at the launch of the A Fairer Tax and Welfare System for Australia report at Parliament House.

In November 2021, the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council commissioned the ANU’s Centre for Social Research & Methods (CSRM) to model reforms to the Australian tax and welfare systems. The aim was to reduce the poverty gap by increasing working age payments and Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

In late 2022, CSRM updated its modelling, incorporated the 2023 Budget announcements and analysed changes in poverty and financial stress rates by statistical area (SA3) for three options.

This updated report was launched at Parliament House in September 2023.

"The recommendations of this report, if implemented, would make a significant contribution to improving the wellbeing of so many Australians doing it tough". Mark Gaetani - National President St Vincent de Paul Society.

The report

The report A Fairer Tax and Welfare System for Australia was done for the Society by the Australian National University. It was launched on 4 September 2023 at Parliament House, Canberra. 

The recommendations aim to help people most likely to be in poverty – those receiving JobSeeker, working age pension recipients (including DSP and carers), sole-person households, single parents and renters. 

At the launch, National President Mark Gaetani said, ‘One of the Society’s core Values is advocacy – to push for change to improve people’s lives.’  

The ANU report shows how up to 834,000 vulnerable people could be lifted out of poverty by three reform options.  

Here’s a snapshot of how a fairer tax and welfare system could reduce inequality and the number of Australians living in poverty and financial stress.