'Missed opportunity': Aussies respond to Budget 2020

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When Australians took to Twitter during tonight's Budget Speech, it was less to celebrate what was included in the government's spending plan, and more to point out just what was missing.

No increase to JobKeeper or JobSeeker

While Treasurer Josh Frydenberg described JobKeeper as a "$101 billion economic lifeline" that saved lives, and reminded us that JobSeeker "doubled the safety net", voters were unimpressed.

budget reaction

Not enough money for women

Yes, there was $240 million for apprenticeships and entrepreneurialism as part of the government's second Women's Economic Security Statement. No, it's not enough, according to Australians.

No spending on social housing

While the Budget did include a commitment to accessible finance for affordable housing, funding for social housing, which would have also created construction jobs, was conspicuously absent.

No confidence in trickle-down economics

The notion that bolstering private wealth will have a 'trickle down' effect in the form of creating jobs and growth is missing the mark with everyday Aussies.

Not enough home care places to meet demand

The 23,000 home care places don't come close to matching the waiting list of more than 100,000 Australians.

What do you think of Budget 2020? Let us know in the comments.

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Sharyn McCowen is Money's digital editor. She has a degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University, and was a newspaper reporter for 10 years before moving to magazines and finance.
Comments
Peter Durman
October 17, 2020 12.13pm

I am so disappointed at the Twitersphere. It's all give me more free money. No please.

Those wanting cheap housing, move to a place with cheap houses, under $200,000. There are plenty.

And free money fo doing nothing? What about the thousands of job vacancies. In my extended family, no one was out of work for more than a week. In my town there are signs everywhere asking for workers. Jobseeker certainly needs to be cut.

Working in the health industry, few genuinely needy waited long for care packages. Anyone wanting to stay home rather than go to a nursing home got one.

Childcare? An extraordinary system of heavily subsisted child care. There are vacancies. Pity the kids dumped at 6 am then picked up at 6 pm.

What a depressing article. This is supposed to be a magazine for people trying to get ahead, not people complaining because they do not get enough free money.

Estelle L
October 17, 2020 3.12pm

Ok boomer.

Nick S
October 18, 2020 1.29pm

Rather than insult, actually argue the points.

Peter made some good points, I agree with some but would argue some are not realistic, ie not everyone is in a position to move a capital city to somewhere where homes are less than 200K, clearly that cannot happen. Home care packages, it has been well documented that people have literally died whilst on the waiting list, my own FIL was receiving level 2 care when he desperately needed Level 4 prior to his death, the system could be vastly improved.