St Vincent de Paul welcomes new ministry

St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia welcomes Prime Minister Albanese’s incoming Ministry and stands ready to work with the new government to support Australians in need.

‘More than three million people, including one-in-six children, live in poverty in Australia and find it increasingly tough to make ends meet as the cost-of-living skyrockets,’
National President Ms Claire Victory said.

‘We were heartened by the Prime Minister’s commitment to leave no one behind as his government brings Australians together around our shared values of fairness and opportunity.

‘It will be critical for the new Government to unite all Australians and support structural reform to end disadvantage in Australia to avoid a continual ballooning of poverty and social crisis.

‘We congratulate the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP and the Hon Katy Gallagher on their appointments as Treasurer and Minister for Finance respectively. We look forward to working with them to ensure Australians in need are placed at the heart of the policy agenda for the coming term and are protected during any process of budget repair,’ Ms Victory said.

The St Vincent de Paul Society welcomes the elevation to Cabinet of housing and homelessness, critical areas of public policy affecting an increasing number of Australians, and the appointment of the Hon Julie Collins MP as Minister.

‘Minister Collins has previously served as Minister for Housing and Homelessness and held other key social policy and service portfolios, including Minister for Community Services. She has consistently expressed her commitment to address social issues, including housing affordability, including in her first speech to Parliament. This experience means Minister Collins will hit the ground running,’ Ms Victory said.

The St Vincent de Paul Society congratulates the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP on her appointment as Minister for Social Services.

‘Minister Rishworth brings to the role extensive experience in Parliament, a background in clinical psychology, and a publicly-stated commitment to the role of government in improving the quality of life and opportunity available to all Australians’ Ms Victory said.

‘We look forward to working with Ministers Collins and Rishworth to support the Government as it delivers on its commitments to develop a National Housing and Homelessness Plan and establish a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.