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Spending promises revealed
Unfortunately neither party wants to detail how these might be paid for . . .
Nic Stuart
April 14, 2025
The abilityNEWS Daily
The Sketch
Where’s the money coming from?
Bribing the Voters
Spending money attracts attention and encourages support. The hangover will come later when governments have to find the money to pay for the spending spree.
Campaigning energetically for the Lodge back in 2007, Kevin Rudd suddenly upended the election dynamic with a single sentence.
“This reckless spending must stop,” he insisted.
It’s difficult to overestimate the power those words had in sucking the wind out of incumbent PM John Howard’s sails. All his spending promises suddenly looked irresponsible. He was transformed into a flailing man, attempting to buy what he couldn’t afford.
There was no danger of that happening during either party’s campaign launch yesterday. Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have identified what they think is the fulcrum for the voters - housing - and both engaged in big spending plans to make swinging, alienated people priced out of the housing market feel supported.
Whether either party’s policies will actually address the fundamental issue that there aren’t enough houses is, to some extent, irrelevant. The key point is that neither has been able to successfully craft a plausible economic narrative that can offer people space to succeed without handouts.
The only danger is that at some point in the distant future, governments may discover they need to pay for all the services they’ve promised. And that’s a longer-term worry for the NDIS.
The Briefing
How to access photo identification in Australian States and Territories
By People with Disability Australia
Photo identification can be essential for people with disability needing proof of identity not just for voting, but also regular services and support. Each Australian state and territory offers different types of photo ID cards with varying requirements and costs.
Election Priorities
By Mental Health Australia
Community Mental Health Australia is urging federal investment in a national psychosocial workforce framework to address critical support gaps. It proposes $3.35 million over three years to build cross-sector infrastructure focused on rights-based, lived experience-led mental health reform.
ACTCOSS welcomes bill to enshrine access to housing as a human right
By ACTCOSS
The Greens have proposed adding housing to the ACT Human Rights Act after sustained pressure from community organisations. The amendment would compel government to consider housing in policy decisions and strengthen protections for vulnerable residents.
Back to basics priorities needed in the election
By Advocacy for Inclusion
Advocacy for Inclusion is urging the next federal government to prioritise disability needs in housing, health and education funding. They argue current strategies fall short without dedicated investment beyond the NDIS to improve everyday outcomes.
How to access photo identification in Australian States and Territories
By People with Disability Australia
Photo identification can be essential for people with disability needing proof of identity not just for voting, but also regular services and support. Each Australian state and territory offers different types of photo ID cards with varying requirements and costs.
Missing a critical opportunity for mental health reform
By Mental Health Australia
Community Mental Health Australia warns election funding pledges risk perpetuating outdated mental health models. The organisation urges a shift toward community-based, person-centred services supported by stronger psychosocial workforce planning. It stresses a failure to integrate lived experience represents a failure to address the problem.
The Wrap
The Diary
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