Australia's Federal Budget: Achieving the Global Goals 2017 / 2018
Updated: Nov 4, 2018
Image credit: Got Credit
Across the country, hundreds of thousands of Australians sat glued to their TV on last night as Scott Morrison presented the 2017 / 2018 federal budget.
What Australians didn’t get to hear is how the federal budget is actually working to achieve the Global Goals.
We took the liberty of breaking down a mere handful of aspects of the federal budget into how they’re working to achieve the Global Goals!
Increase to Centrelink call centre capacity
$8.4 billion for the Inland Rail project
$1 billion for Landcare
Including specific funding for the Sustainable Agriculture small grants program
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Rolling tobacco will be taxed in the same way as cigarettes.
The government has confirmed a plan to fully fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The government also intends to legislate a Bill to guarantee Medicare.
$18.6 billion for education
There is unfortunately no new funding for gender equality; however, Global Goals Australia is committed to working with politicians, businesses and community groups to ensure this issue is on the agenda for the 2018/2019 budget.
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
There is unfortunately no new funding for water and sanitation; however, Global Goals Australia is committed to working with politicians, businesses and community groups to ensure this issue is on the agenda for the 2018/2019 budget.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
$2 billion for Snowy Hydro 2.0
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
A levy will be put in place for businesses looking to hire foreign workers. This levy will fund up to 300,000 apprenticeships and traineeships for Australian workers over four years.
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
$75 billion for the Government’s 10 year infrastructure program
$10 billion of this for the National Rail Program
$5.3 billion of this for the western Sydney airport
There is unfortunately no new funding for reducing inequalities; however, Global Goals Australia is committed to working with politicians, businesses and community groups to ensure this issue is on the agenda for the 2018/2019 budget.
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The government will increase the capital gains tax discount from 50% to 60% for those who choose to invest in affordable housing.
$1 billion for National Housing Infrastructure Facility to be established based on UK model
$375 million for permanent extension of homelessness funding to state and territory governments
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
There is unfortunately no new funding for responsible consumption and production patterns; however, Global Goals Australia is committed to working with politicians, businesses and community groups to ensure this issue is on the agenda for the 2018/2019 budget.
There is unfortunately no new funding for climate action; however, Global Goals Australia is committed to working with companies specialising in research and development of clean energy alternatives and lobbying the government at all levels to ensure our commitment to the Paris Agreement as well as the Global Goals is met or, preferably, bettered.
There is unfortunately no new funding for marine life; however, Global Goals Australia is committed to working with politicians, businesses and community groups to ensure this issue is on the agenda for the 2018/2019 budget.
There is unfortunately no new funding for the sustaining our flora and fauna; however, Global Goals Australia is committed to working with politicians, businesses and community groups to ensure this issue is on the agenda for the 2018/2019 budget.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The promised increase in defence spending will be reached sooner than originally planned, reaching 2% of GDP three years earlier than scheduled.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Unfortunately, the government announced a $303 million cut to overseas development assistance (ODA), going against its commitment to 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) to be put towards ODA by 2030. We are looking forward to working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to come up with a plan to achieve this 0.7% figure over the next 15 years.
Many of the projects mentioned in the budget apply to multiple goals and the list above is by no means exhaustive. We are not passing judgement on the budget; we are merely outlining how certain projects will be working to achieve the Global Goals over the next financial year.
The Global Goals Australia Campaign is lobbying at a federal, state and local government level to embed the Global Goals in all government planning and budgeting and to then measure success or failure against the 169 targets of the 17 goals.
Have any questions about the budget? Feel free to contact us!
This article was originally published on the Global Goals Australia Campaign website.