The Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT) has voiced disappointment over the recent budget, criticising its insufficient measures to alleviate the living cost pressures faced by young Tasmanians and its negligible relief for community service organisations dependent on government funding.
According to YNOT, the budget provides a modest indexation increase from 3% to 4% for community sector organisations in the fiscal year 2023/24, but it fails to keep pace with the growing organisational costs. This indexation does not extend to all community sector organisations, thereby undermining industry sustainability. Insufficient indexation and inadequate adjustment of the funding formula may lead to a continued struggle for many community sector organisations, impacting those Tasmanians who rely on them the most.
YNOT notes that while the budget offers some relief for Tasmanians with low income, the majority of these measures do not significantly benefit young Tasmanians in practical terms. The 18–25-year-old demographic, often ineligible for cost-of-living relief measures like electricity and water concessions, is left grappling with financial pressures as they transition into independent living.
The budget did earmark some funding for youth-focused initiatives such as the Youth2Independence program, the Transition to Independence program, and the Ticket to Play initiative. The Build Up Tassie program, which prepares young individuals aged 16-24 for the construction industry, secured a six-year, $4 million investment.
However, YNOT criticised the budget for overlooking the State’s Youth Peak Body, despite recent significant governmental reforms aimed at the health and well-being of Tasmania's youth. The organisation warns that such a gap in support forces them to decline contributing their expertise to ongoing and new youth policy initiatives, hindering potential progress in the sector.
In summary, the recent budget is viewed as a let-down by YNOT. As per their observations, young Tasmanians already express a sense of being left behind, and the budget has not significantly addressed their concerns.
For any further inquiries or comments regarding the budget, YNOT's CEO, Tania Hunt, can be reached at [email protected].
