SENATOR DEAN SMITH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE SHADOW TREASURER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE COST OF LIVING
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
12 June 2026
ACNC REPORT CONFIRMS COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS HITTING CHARITIES AND COMMUNITIES
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission’s (ACNC) latest Australian Charities Report has confirmed that cost-of-living-pressures are placing increasing strain on both Australian families and the charities that support them.
The report shows charities generated a record $239 billion in revenue in 2024, up 7.5 per cent, but expenses rose even faster, increasing by 8.6 per cent to $231 billion.
The ACNC found more Australians are turning to charities for support as they struggle with rising living costs, while charities themselves face growing pressure from higher wages, insurance premiums, utility bills and interest expenses.
Charities now employ 1.6 million Australians, with employee expenses increasing by 10 per cent to $128 billion during the reporting period.
The report also highlights growing demand for support among older Australians, with people aged 65 and over now among the most common beneficiaries of charitable services.
The findings reveal a “growing gap” between charity revenue and expenses, driven by rising demand for services and rapidly escalating operating costs.
The ACNC report exposes the growing strain Labor’s cost-of-living crisis is placing on Australian households, charities and community organisations, with rising demand for support colliding with higher costs across the economy.
Comments Attributable to Senator Dean Smith:
“The Albanese Government can no longer deny the cost-of-living crisis when its own charities regulator is reporting that more Australians are turning to charities for support while those charities struggle with rising costs.”
“The ACNC report confirms what Australian families already know – the cost of electricity, groceries, insurance, housing and everyday essentials has risen dramatically under Labor, and charities are seeing the consequences firsthand.”
“Charity expenses rose by 8.6 per cent last year, outpacing revenue growth and highlighting the continuing impact of inflation across the economy.”
“The growing number of older Australians relying on charitable support is a concerning sign that cost-of-living pressures are increasingly affecting those on fixed incomes.”
“After four years of Labor, charities are facing a difficult combination of rising demand for assistance and higher costs for wages, insurance, utilities and borrowing.”
“The warning signs are clear- more Australians need help, charities are under greater strain, and, unless Labor gets inflation under control and reins in its spending, these pressures will only weaken.”