Paterson, Smith, Adeniyi – Media Release – Multicultural youth swimming program will save lives and boost social cohesion

SENATOR JAMES PATERSON SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND CYBER SECURITY SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY FELICIA ADENIYI LIBERAL PARTY CANDIDATE FOR COWAN 30 April 2025 MULTICULTURAL YOUTH SWIMMING PROGRAM WILL SAVE LIVES AND BOOST SOCIAL COHESION An elected Dutton Liberal Government will provide $150,000 over three years from a revitalised Safer Communities Fund (SCF) to support multicultural youth swimming lessons in Cowan, ensuring improved water safety and greater social integration for more than 600 local kids. Utilising Royal Life Saving WA’s 8-week ‘Swim & Survive’ program, the classes will be run from Stirling Leisure Centre – Leisurepark in Balga for up to 208 children a year, with the cost of any swimming equipment included. Liberal candidate for Cowan, Felicia Adeniyi, said this funding would help children and their families feel safer in and around the water. “This is especially important in Cowan, where a significant percentage of the population was born overseas. We know that multicultural communities are at greater risk of drowning due to cultural differences in swimming ability,” Ms Adeniyi said. “This funding is a direct response to requests from concerned families in Cowan, and particularly the Organisation of African Communities in Western Australia, given the tragic drownings that occurred in recent years.” Senator for Western Australia, Senator Dean Smith, said the swimming program also has a key role in preventing isolation and fostering greater social integration for multicultural children. “Water safety knowledge and swimming are, fortunately, part of life for the wider community, but it’s vital that multicultural families are not excluded from this,” Senator Smith said. “The swimming program will help ensure that these children can confidently and safety enjoy the same activities as everybody else in Cowan, fostering a stronger sense of community here.” Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Senator James Paterson, said under a Dutton Liberal Government, the Cowan community will be better supported. “Getting Australia back on track means keeping Australia safe – safe for families, safe for businesses, and safe for communities,” Senator Paterson said. This commitment is part of the Liberals’ plan to strengthen our local communities and get our country back on track.

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Smith, Adeniyi – Media Release – $295 million for congestion-busting major road upgrades in Cowan

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA FELICIA ADENIYI LIBERAL FOR COWAN 29 April 2025 $295 MILLION FOR CONGESTION-BUSTING MAJOR ROAD UPGRADES IN COWAN An elected Liberal Government will deliver two transformational upgrades to congested major roads in Perth’s northern suburbs worth a total of $295 million. This much needed infrastructure boost means locals will spend less time on the road and have a safer driving experience. The Liberals will deliver a grade separation project at Reid Highway and Erindale Road for $225 million. $70 million has been allocated for grade separation works at Wanneroo Road and Hepburn Avenue. Liberal candidate for Cowan, Felicia Adeniyi, said that the upgrades would support residents in Hamersley, Balcatta, Westminster and Balga, as well as the thousands of motorists who use Reid Highway every day. “The northern suburbs are growing rapidly and our road infrastructure must keep up with the increased demand to avoid delays and accidents,” Ms Adeniyi said. “Many locals have made it clear this is a priority and we are committed to delivering it so people can spend less time in the car and more time doing what matters.” Senator for Western Australia, Senator Dean Smith, said that the upgrades would improve road safety at some of Perth’s busiest intersections. “These are incredibly busy roads and the upgrades will ensure they are fit for purpose in this dymamic, expanding part of the city,” Senator Smith said. “This significant commitment is confirmation the Liberals understands the needs – and potential – of Cowan and its motorists.” ENDS

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Smith, Reynolds, Adeniyi – Media Release – Delivering world-class facilities for Wanneroo Rugby Union Club

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA SENATOR LINDA REYNOLDS LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA FELICIA ADENIYI LIBERAL FOR COWAN 12 April 2025 DELIVERING WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES FOR WANNEROO RUGBY UNION CLUB An elected Liberal Government will provide $4 million towards the redevelopment and expansion of the Wanneroo Rugby Union Club, ensuring that the club remains a hub for grassroots and elite-level rugby in Perth’s northern suburbs. Liberal candidate for Cowan, Felicia Adeniyi, secured this commitment to ensure local athletes, families, and community groups can enjoy improved sporting opportunities and facilities. “The club has long been a mainstay of Western Australia’s rugby community, but its current facilities have become outdated and no longer meet the demands of a growing player base, including in the rapidly expanding women’s rugby competition,” said Ms Adeniyi. “This investment will ensure that the club can expand and modernise its infrastructure to cater to increased membership.” The upgrades will include: New female change rooms to support the club’s growing women’s teams, providing a professional space for training and game days. Improved spectator amenities to enhance the game-day experience for families, fans, and visiting teams. A high-performance training academy, aimed at developing the next generation of elite rugby players, supporting pathways into professional and national teams. The club’s redevelopment will help attract visiting teams for training camps and tournaments, boost the local economy, and raise the profile of rugby players in the local area. Senator Dean Smith and Senator Linda Reynolds both welcomed the announcement. “Sport is at the heart of our northern suburbs lifestyle and this investment will ensure that the club remains a centre for rugby excellence in WA, attracting locals and interstate and international teams,” Senator Smith said. “It is also advantageous timing ahead of the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups, where professional teams will be looking for high-quality training facilities,” said Senator Smith. “This funding recognises the key role the club plays in our local sporting and social life, and will enable it to deliver improved services to athletes and their supporters,” Senator Reynolds said. “This redevelopment will not only enhance the playing experience for athletes and sports enthusiasts, helping them to reach their full potential, but also drive economic benefits through use by professional teams and for events,” said Senator Reynolds. This commitment is part of the Liberals’ plan to strengthen our local communities and get Australia back on track. To read more about our plan, visit https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan. ENDS

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Dutton, Sukkar, Smith, Evans – Media Release – Coalition Commits Funding to New Foodbank QLD Distribution Centre

THE HON PETER DUTTON MP LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY MR TREVOR EVANS LIBERAL NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE FOR BRISBANE COALITION COMMITS FUNDING TO NEW FOODBANK QUEENSLAND DISTRIBUTION CENTRE An elected Dutton Coalition Government will commit $19.5 million for Foodbank Queensland to establish a new distribution centre in South East Queensland to deliver more critical food relief services across the state. This builds on the Leader of the Opposition’s announcement in his Budget-in-Reply speech of $50 million to help food charities – like Foodbank, SecondBite and OzHarvest – to expand their services, including school breakfast programs, to support Australians struggling under Labor’s cost of living crisis. Foodbank Queensland currently delivers over 13 million kilograms of food every year from its facility in Morningside, providing food to over 425 charities to assist families impacted by food insecurity. It also runs School Breakfast Programs in 425 schools, giving children access to a healthy breakfast and making sure they do not attend school feeling hungry. A new Foodbank Queensland Distribution Centre will include: 4,500 pallet spaces, which is triple the current volume; temperature-controlled zones allowing for enhanced food safety, quality and extending the shelf life of ambient, chilled and frozen products; dedicated areas for safe and efficient food delivery and dispatch; and multipurpose training space and office space for volunteers and staff. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, who visited Foodbank’s Morningside site today, said this announcement highlighted the Coalition’s commitment to helping those in need. “Under Labor’s cost of living crisis, we know that charities are experiencing increased demand, including from Australians who have never previously relied on that support. Families are having to make difficult choices about whether they can afford the necessities like food, rent and medicine. The Coalition is committed to making life easier for all Australians, and ensuring our most vulnerable can access the support they need.” Shadow Minister for Social Services, the Hon Michael Sukkar MP said nearly 2 million Australian households of all age groups and demographics have experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months. “Under the Albanese Labor Government, Australians are experiencing the worst collapse in living standards in history. Real household disposable income has plummeted by 8 per cent, and the price of everything has soared by more than 10 per cent since the last election. “Unlike Labor, we have listened to the sector and know Australians need increased support now. Only a Coalition has a plan to fix Labor’s cost of living crisis and get Australia back on track.” Shadow Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Senator Dean Smith, noted that Foodbank had reported that around 700,000 Queensland households experienced food insecurity last year, including 22% of households earning more than $95,000 and 25% of mortgage holders. “This significant investment in food relief will make a real difference on the ground where people are doing it tough. The new Foodbank Queensland Distribution Centre will be three times the size of the current facility, enabling Foodbank Queensland to expand its services to more families in crisis, including in regional and remote areas, and expand the School Breakfast Program.” Liberal National candidate for Brisbane, Mr Trevor Evans, said “People in Brisbane are doing it really tough right now, and it’s the same story for community and volunteer organisations like Foodbank. I’m really proud that this funding commitment will go some way to getting better outcomes and support for some of Brisbane’s most vulnerable people.” Only the Coalition has a plan to fix Labor’s cost of living crisis and get Australia back on track. 14 April 2025 MORNINGSIDE, QLD

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Australia’s Emissions Flatline Under Albanese Labor Government as Key Sectors Worsen

The latest Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: March 2025 exposes the Albanese Labor Government’s failure to deliver on its emissions reduction promises, with rising emissions in key sectors leaving Australia dangerously off-track to meet its 2030 target. While overall emissions remained relatively flat, this is not the result of Labor’s policies. The only real progress in emissions cuts came from COVID lockdowns, state schemes and the favourable weather — not from anything the Albanese Government has implemented. Despite Anthony Albanese’s rhetoric, the data tells a very different story: Transport emissions are now higher than pre-COVID levels, up 1% (0.5 Mt CO₂-e) since 2020, driven by surging domestic aviation. Agriculture emissions have surged 7% (5.3 Mt CO₂-e) since 2020, dominated by post drought livestock recovery and fertiliser use. Fugitive emissions from gas venting have surged 24% (2.4 Mt CO₂-e), even as Labor touts safeguards and CCS schemes. The land sector “net sink” has weakened sharply since 2022 as La Niña ended, rainfall declined, and bush fires increased — exposing the fragility of Labor’s reliance on offsets. Half of Australia’s 2030 carbon budget is already spent, yet Labor has no credible plan to tackle the harder task ahead. These figures make it clear: Labor is failing to deliver durable outcomes. Agriculture and transport — two of the hardest sectors for families and exporters — are moving backwards. Gas venting is surging. And the land sector, heavily relied upon by Labor to meet targets, remains vulnerable to rainfall and fire seasons. The update also confirms that reductions in the electricity sector are being driven by projects approved years earlier, many under the Coalition, rather than by new policies from Labor. To meet its 2030 emissions target, Australia needs to reduce emissions by roughly 15 Mt CO2‑e per year from now until 2030. By comparison, emissions fell by only 3 Mt CO2‑e in 2023–24, and the long-term average reduction since 2006 has been around 12 Mt CO2‑e per year. As the Climate Change Authority highlighted in its 2024 Annual Progress Report, maintaining the current pace of reductions will leave Australia well short of its 2030 goal (p. 29). Without a significant acceleration in emissions cuts, the target is unlikely to be achieved. Australians deserve an energy policy that lowers bills, ensures reliable power, and reduces emissions. This latest update shows the Albanese Labor Government has delivered none of the above. Quotes attributable to Senator Dean Smith “Labor is coasting on the legacy of Coalition projects. Their emissions reduction policy is failing, and families are left paying the price.” “Halfway to 2030, Labor has already burned through half the carbon budget with no plan for how to deliver the rest.” “Labor’s climate plan isn’t a plan at all — it’s higher prices, rising pollution, and a reliance on good rainfall and luck with the fire season.” “Australians deserve a credible energy and climate policy that cuts emissions while keeping the lights on and bills down — not empty promises and excuses.” “Labor promised transformation, but instead emissions are flatlining, while transport emissions are now higher than before COVID, agriculture is surging, and gas venting is up 24% — that’s Labor’s record.” Quotes from the Quarterly Update “Australia is 48% of the way through the Paris Agreement target period and has generated emissions equivalent to 48% of the emissions budget to 2030.” (p4) “Overall transport emissions in the year to March 2025 are 0.1% above the levels observed in the year to December 2019, immediately before the COVID pandemic. This overall increase is largely the result of increases in annual emissions from domestic aviation and road transport diesel consumption, which are 16.8% and 7.6% higher in the year to March 2025 than they were pre-COVID in the year to December 2019 respectively.” (p19) “There have been significant declines in electricity sector emissions since 2020… This decline in emissions has occurred while demand for electricity across residential and industrial sectors has increased. Residential demand is increasingly being met by rooftop solar supported by the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, putting downward pressure on demand from the grid. Similarly, industrial demand is being met with a growing proportion of renewable generation, supported by state and federal policies such as the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme.” (p30)

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The Hon Michael Sukkar MP & Senator Dean Smith – Joint Media Release – COALITION COMMITS $50 MILLION TO FOOD CHARITY SERVICES

SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, NDIS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS – THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP SENATOR DEAN SMITH – SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY & LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA JOINT MEDIA RELEASE COALITION COMMITS $50 MILLION TO FOOD CHARITY SERVICES 28 March 2025 A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $50 million to help food charities, like Foodbank, SecondBite and OzHarvest, expand their services, including school breakfast programs, to support Australians struggling under Labor’s cost-of-living crisis. This funding comprises: $20 million in the first year (2025-26), to provide immediate support to Australians in need, with $10 million for the three national food relief charities and $10 million for other charities providing food support; and $10 million each year from 2026 to 2029, to further support the three national food relief charities. Under the Albanese Labor Government, Australians are experiencing the worst collapse in living standards in history. Real household disposable income has plummeted by 8 per cent, and the price of everything has soared by more than 10 per cent since the last election. To put Labor’s cost-of-living crisis into perspective, nearly 2 million Australian households of all age groups and demographics have experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months; 30 per cent of households with mortgages and 46 per cent of renting households are being forced to skip meals just to keep a roof over their heads; and even working Australians can’t afford the basics, with more than half of the households seeking food relief having at least one person in paid employment. As a result, Australia’s food relief sector has been calling on the Labor Government to provide an urgent and dramatic increase in funding to respond to the unprecedented levels of demand for food relief, including from Australians who have never previously relied on that support. However, the calls for funding have fallen on the Government’s deaf ears. Unlike Labor, we have listened to the sector and know Australians need increased support now. Only a Coalition has a plan to fix Labor’s cost-of-living crisis and get Australia back on track. ENDS

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Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – National Spike in Borrowers Who Cannot Make Mortgage Repayments Under Labor

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE 20 March 2025 NATIONAL SPIKE IN BORROWERS WHO CANNOT MAKE MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS UNDER LABOR The number of Australian mortgage holders running at least three months late on their repayments has increased in every state and the ACT, according to newly released data from the Reserve Bank of Australia. These figures update data supplied to Senator Dean Smith by the RBA in 2023. They confirm the growing mortgage hardship over that time, revealing the percentage of borrowers in 90-day arrears nearly doubled in some states. Victoria was the worst affected nationally, with 0.66 percent of mortgage holders in 90-day arrears – up significantly on the 0.37 percent recorded in the earlier data. New South Wales was the next highest, hitting 0.55 percent compared to 0.31 percent. Queensland jumped from 0.29 percent to 0.42 percent of borrowers, South Australia from 0.33 percent to 0.47 percent, Western Australia from 0.43 percent to 0.51 percent, and the ACT from 0.21 percent to 0.34 percent. Tasmania’s numbers were notable, increasing 0.18 percent between data sets to 0.47 percent. The RBA data also covers the percentage of borrowers assessed as having a high mortgage burden. These households are defined as spending more than 30 percent of their household income on mortgage repayments and being in the lowest income quartile. Victoria and Tasmania led the way, with more than 10 percent of mortgage holders impacted – 11.4 percent in Victoria and 10.1 percent in Tasmania. Except for the ACT, where numbers increased from 8.8 percent to 9 percent, all states experienced a slight decrease in the number of borrowers carrying a high mortgage burden between the data provided in 2023 and 2025. This mortgage stress has been occurring as more than half of mortgage holders rolled from fixed rate to more expensive variable rate loans. According to the RBA, between 58 percent (Queensland, WA and South Australia) and 64 percent (Victoria) of fixed term loans were due to expire during 2024. Assuming a 25-year loan and interest rate of approximately 6.4 percent, the Bank estimates the switch to a variable rate loan translates to an extra $940 in monthly repayments on a $450,000 loan. An $800,000 loan would cost an extra $1,740 per month and a $1,000,000 loan an extra $2,170. This latest data proves something thousands of Australian mortgage holders know from personal experience – mortgage repayments are higher under Labor, and, combined with cost of living pressures, an increasing number of homeowners can no longer keep up with them. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith: “As the Federal election rapidly approaches, this new RBA data confirms the widespread, growing scale of mortgage stress under Labor.” “More and more borrowers in every state and the ACT are falling behind on their mortgage repayments and it’s a direct consequence of the Albanese Government’s cost of living crisis and cumulative interest rate rises.” “The recent interest rate cut by the RBA was welcome, but it will take many more before mortgage holders pushed to the edge by Labor’s dozen rate rises experience any meaningful relief.” “Life is harder under Anthony Albanese and Labor, and only a Dutton-led Coalition Government has a plan to get the Australian economy – and mortgage holders – back on track. ENDS

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Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – New RBA Data Confirms Jump in WA Mortgage Pain Under Labor

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE NEW RBA DATA CONFIRMS JUMP IN WA MORTGAGE PAIN UNDER LABOR The toll of the Albanese Government’s dozen interest rate rises on Western Australian mortgage holders is rising. New Reserve Bank of Australia data sourced by Senator Dean Smith reveals a significant increase in the WA homeowners who are three months or more behind on their mortgage repayments. 0.51 percent of borrowers in the West are now in 90-day arrears according to the RBA – up from 0.43 percent in data the Bank provided to Senator Smith in 2023. It is third highest rate of 90-day mortgage arrears in Australia, with only New South Wales and Victoria recording worse results of 0.55 percent and 0.66 percent. The RBA data also highlights that 9.8 percent of WA borrowers are classified by the RBA as having a high mortgage burden. This is also the third largest number in Australia. The high proportion of fixed rate loans that have rolled over to higher variable rates has not helped. 58 percent of fixed rate loans in the state were due to expire in 2024, according to the RBA. The average mortgage repayment increases for affected homeowners puts this into context. The RBA calculates that – assuming a 25-year loan and an interest rate of approximately 6.4 percent – those with a $450,000 loan switching to variable interest would have to make monthly repayments of $3,000, an extra $940 compared to their fixed rate repayments. On the same basis, an $800,000 loan would carry monthly repayments of $5,340, an extra $1,740, while a $1,000,000 loan would carry a monthly repayment of $6,670, an extra $2,170. This data makes clear that mortgage stress in WA is both very real and worse – not better – after two additional years of economic mismanagement by the Albanese Government. The growing number of borrowers unable to make their mortgage repayments is a direct result of the cumulative interest rate rises and ongoing cost-of-living pressures Labor has inflicted on Western Australians. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith: “On the eve of the Federal election, this data leaves no doubt that more and more Western Australian mortgage holders have been pushed to the edge under the Albanese Government.” “Not only is the number of WA mortgage holders in 90-day arrears up significantly, but the RBA now classifies nearly 10 percent of borrowers as having a high mortgage burden – all due to Labor’s cumulative interest rate rises and cost-of-living crisis.” “The recent interest rate cut was welcomed by all, but a dozen rises during Labor’s term means many more will be needed to provide genuine relief to those being crippled by mortgage stress.” “Only a Dutton-led Coalition Government has a plan to rein in spending, properly address inflation, and get our economy – and our mortgage holders – back on track.” ENDS

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Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – More than 1,200 WA businesses insolvent as Labor’s cost of doing business crisis bites

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE MORE THAN 1,200 WA BUSINESSES INSOLVENT AS LABOR’S COST OF DOING BUSINESS CRISIS BITES Nearly three years of elevated interest rates under the Albanese Government has fueled one of the most severe cost of doing business crises Western Australia has experienced – driving a massive rise in the number of businesses collapsing. Latest figures from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reveal that 1,222 businesses across the state entered insolvency between January and December 2024. This represents a 42 percent increase in WA insolvencies compared to 2023. The data confirms what many local entrepreneurs know only too well – that the rate of insolvencies in Western Australia is accelerating as more and more small businesses struggle to cope with persistent high interest rates and tightening consumer spending. There were 351 insolvencies during the December 2024 quarter, a jump of 142 percent on the 145 insolvencies in the March 2022 quarter. ASIC figures also indicate that businesses in the construction and accommodation/food categories were hit hardest, accounting for 32.4 percent – or nearly one-third – of all company insolvencies in Western Australia last year. Significant Government spending at both Federal and State levels has to an extent masked the true impact of the crisis on small businesses, which remain the main drivers of jobs growth in Australia. As a result of this public spending, more than 80 percent of jobs filled in the past two years have been in Australia’s public service, health, and education. The Australian Government has added over 26,000 new permanent public service positions since Labor’s election, contributing to a 23 percent increase in the wages bill since June 2022. This Government spending is not financially sustainable and long term, sustainable jobs will only be created in an environment where the private sector is thriving. WA’s confronting, rapidly increasing business insolvency rate is proof positive that is not the case under Anthony Albanese and Labor. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith: “Western Australian businesses have battled difficult operating conditions for years under Labor, but the scale of these insolvencies leaves no doubt the situation has badly deteriorated – we are in a full blown cost of doing business crisis.” “These are not just numbers, either. They are real WA businesses, real WA jobs, and real WA households being impacted.” “Contrary to the promise Anthony Albanese made in Perth in May 2022, things have not been easier under his Government – higher interest rates, skyrocketing overheads, weak consumer confidence and overregulation are what Labor has delivered businesses in Western Australia” “Those businesses realise, and the data confirms, that the economy is stagnating while Labor throws more and more money into growing the bureaucracy instead of the private sector.” “That will not be the case under a Dutton-led Coalition Government, with our plan to back small business, cut Government waste and get Australia back on track.” ENDS

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Senator Dean Smith – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Media Release – Charity Leaders Unleash on Labor’s Failure to Deliver in New Survey

SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE 24 February 2025 CHARITY LEADERS UNLEASH ON LABOR’S FAILURE TO DELIVER IN NEW SURVEY The charity and not for profit sector has made its most damning assessment of the Albanese Government yet – venting its frustrations at the lack of support and policy progress under Labor at a time when it is most needed. New charity leaders’ survey A report released today slams Labor’s inaction since coming to power and notes how it is jeopardising the charitable organisations supporting millions of Australians through the Government’s own cost of living crisis. It notes that “Charities and NFP community groups have been on the back burner”, that they are “not a priority for the Government” and asks when the Government is “going to start doing things”. State of the Sector Report, Charity Policy Delivery: The Government’s Scorecard surveyed the 56 leaders and CEOs of major charities and not for profits who are part of the Community Council of Australia Charity Expert Panel. Conducted by Piazza Research, the report reveals at least two thirds of charity leaders are critical of the Albanese Government’s failure to act and inability to progress key reforms aimed at improving the operational capacity of the sector. Many of these reforms were Labor election promises in 2022, and the report observes that “actions speak louder than words, and commitments need to be followed through” – also noting there have been “lots of consultations and review processes”, but that these are “yet to see much action”. The leading concern, voiced by nearly 85 percent of survey respondents, was Labor’s failure to cut the red tape burdening the sector. Other issues highlighted include insufficient action to assist charities and not for profits in adapting to changing technology and updated models of funding that allow long-term planning. Labor’s record of failure The report mirrors long-standing criticisms from the sector – and the Coalition – that the opportunity to make vital progress to grow and future-proof charities and not for profits has been lost under Labor and Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh. Its July 2024 Future Foundations for Giving Inquiry Report, whose stated aim was to “increase opportunities for philanthropic giving”, contained limited pathways to practically achieve this and left the national goal of doubling philanthropic giving by 2030 in doubt. Labor’s Not-For-Profit Sector Blueprint, described as a “roadmap for Government reform and sector-led initiatives to boost the sector’s capacity to support and connect Australian Communities”, was announced in October 2022, but only released in December 2024 after the sector had struggled through one of the most challenging periods in its history. Where Labor has attempted to act, its approach has been flawed and counterproductive. Its rollout of new not for profit tax reporting requirements, for example, has seen hundreds of community organisations across Australia overwhelmed by new regulatory requirements because the Albanese Government provided conflicting advice and insufficient transitionary arrangements and support. Labor also pursued changes under Fair Work legislation regarding fixed-term contracts that was incompatible with the way most charities receive funding and hire their staff – only finally agreeing to consult and grant the sector an exemption when Senator Smith, on behalf of the Coalition, achieved the support of the Senate to make public documents revealing Labor’s mishandling of the situation. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith “This report is clear confirmation of the frustration and disappointment charity and not for profit leaders and their organisations are feeling with the Albanese Government after three years of inaction.” “Their anger and concern is justified – these have been the most challenging years in the sector’s history, with Australians experiencing major hardship and requiring record support in Labor’s cost of living crisis.” “Instead of rewarding and supporting it, Labor has stalled, watered down, or delivered late the key reforms our charities and not for profits need to operate in an increasingly challenging environment characterised by skyrocketing operating costs, volunteering challenges and cybersecurity issues to name a few.” “And when the Albanese Government does act, it acts contrary to the sector’s best interests, often failing to understand their concerns and making an already bad situation worse.” ENDS

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