Community sector responses to the 2026-27 Budget
Last night the Federal Government handed down their 2026-27 Budget. The Budget provides an indication of the government’s priorities. Across the community sector, organisations have provide responses to the budget.
In this article, we share some of these responses and links to media statements, posts and articles to find out more.
People with Disability Australia
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) says the Federal Budget cuts the supports people with disability rely on to live ordinary lives, without delivering the equivalent alternatives people are being told will replace them.
“Budgets are about choices. This Budget chooses to directly cut the supports people with disability rely on to get out of bed, go to work, care for their children and participate in community life. You cannot build an inclusive community with budget savings that damage people with disabilities’ basic rights.” – PWDA Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith
MEDIA RELEASE: PWDA responds to the 2026-2027 Federal Budget – People with Disability Australia
Economic Justice Australia
The #Budget2026 focuses on providing relief for “working Australians”. This completely ignores the reality of growing poverty in Australia, and the fact that social security rates set below poverty levels trap people in long-term hardship.
“[These rates are] not enough to cover food, utilities, medicine, internet and transport, let alone housing,” says EJA CEO Kate Allingham. “No matter where you live in Australia, nationwide, there are no affordable rentals for people receiving income support payments such as Youth Allowance.
Media release: Budget cost-of-living measures fail to provide relief to those who need it most, says EJA | Economic Justice Australia
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
In last night’s Budget Speech, the Treasurer spoke of resilience, of a Future Made in Australia, and of choosing the hard road of reform. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities understand that road better than most. NACCHO’s response to the 2026-27 Budget is grounded in that same spirit, welcoming what this Budget delivers for community, while calling on government to go further on the structural reform that will make the difference for generations to come.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have been building this country, and caring for its people, long before the word resilience entered a Budget Speech. When the Treasurer speaks of a Future Made in Australia, I want that future to include us, not as a line item, but as architects and leaders of the solutions our communities need. This Budget takes important steps, and we are genuinely grateful. But the next step is the one that matters most: the needs-based funding model we have built together over nine years. That is the reform that lets ACCHOs deliver at the scale our communities deserve. We have done the work. We are ready to walk this road together,” NACCHO Chair, Ms Donella Mills said.
NACCHO Media Release – Budget 2026: Helpful, yes. Transformational, no. – NACCHO
SNAICC – National voice for our children
Budget 2026 is one of missed opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
CEO of peak body SNAICC – National Voice for our Children Catherine Liddle said she was disappointed to see initiatives designed by the Aboriginal community-controlled sector to support to families and children be ignored in this Budget.
“At a time when our children, families and services are facing increasing and often unwarranted scrutiny, it’s disheartening to see the Federal Government failing to back programs we know will huge difference in our communities,” Ms Liddle said.
Federal Budget holds for aid, but stronger investment needed in an increasingly unstable world
ACOSS
This budget needed to do two things. It needed to protect people who were hurting the worst, those with the least, and it needed to do the big reforms that this country needs for now and into the future. What we have tonight is a mixed picture.
This budget has made historic reforms to address some of the inequity in our tax system that has overwhelmingly benefitted the wealthy. It also starts to address key problems in our employment services and child support systems, which is welcome. However, people with the least, who are most in need of help, especially when cost of living is sky high, do not get the real increases they need in this budget.
Historic housing and trust tax reforms welcomed but people with the least miss out (again) – ACOSS
Centre for Truth Telling and Dialogue
“If last night’s budget showed us anything, it’s that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Government are still failing to prioritise First Nations people in this country.
Too often, our communities are expected to carry the weight of racism, exclusion and inequity online, in schools, in sporting arenas and across everyday life while being told to wait for meaningful action or investing in closing the gap that we never created.
Truth telling cannot continue to be treated as optional. If we are serious about building a safer, more equitable and more united country, then we must be willing to tell the truth about this nation’s history and its ongoing impacts. Because lying to the people you lead and truth telling are polar opposites. Leadership should be grounded in honesty, accountability and the courage to face the truth.” Travis Lovette, Executive Director
Fair Agenda
Right now, across every single Australian jurisdiction – women cannot access domestic, family, or sexual violence support services they need when or where they need them.
The Government’s February announcement of 5 years of funding for the Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence 2026-36 was a vital and important investment in culturally safe and community-led services. But these and other services across the country need to be resourced at increased levels to reflect the scale of actual need.
Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA)
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) supports the Australian Government’s ambition for a resilient and reformed Australia. Resilience is built in communities, but it cannot be built without supporting services that help people belong.
FECCA Chair, Peter Doukas OAM said, “Multiculturalism and social cohesion go hand in hand. You cannot have one without investing in the other. Building social cohesion is not a peripheral concern, it is a key pillar of national resilience and economic productivity.”
FECCA 2026-27 Federal Budget Response – FECCA
Climate Council
Fossil fuel multinationals get a massive free kick in this year’s Budget, while Australians are left exposed to global energy price spikes and climate harm.
“This Budget maintains the $19 billion gravy train for big fossil fuel corporations. That is $19 billion in the wrong direction, keeping us tied to foreign oil, rather than supporting the expansion of renewable energy solutions that Australians want to deliver a safer, cleaner, more secure energy future.” Amanda McKenzie, CEO
$19BN Budget free kick for fossil fuel industry | Climate Council
Consumer Health Forum
This year’s Federal Budget is focused on easing cost of living pressures. But it falls short of what Australians need in the face of a growing health affordability crisis. People don’t all start from the same place, equal access on paper does not translate into equal access in real life.
This Budget recognises that someone’s health is shaped long before they walk into a clinic. But financial stress, housing insecurity, caring responsibilities and the pressures of everyday life don’t stay outside the health system for long. The real test is whether people can actually use the care and support available to them in everyday life.
CHF 2026-27 Federal Budget Response
Everybody’s Home
The federal government’s historic step forward on winding back investor tax breaks marks a turning point for housing fairness and affordability but it must be the start of deeper reform, according to Everybody’s Home.
“After years of campaigning, we’re finally seeing a government that is willing to start tackling investor tax breaks and work towards a fairer and more affordable housing system. This is a victory for every Australian priced out of housing,” Ms Azize said.
“While the government’s historic changes to investor tax breaks mark a turning point, they only begin to undo a quarter of a century of damage to the country’s housing system. This must be the start of housing reform, not the end of it.
Australian Council for International Development
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) welcomes the Government’s commitment to protect the aid program in the face of global cuts, including the increased investment in the Indo-Pacific and support for Australian NGOs working globally. However, at a time when the world is facing rising global conflict, the impacts of climate change, and impending food insecurity from the fuel crisis, Australia has hit an all-time low in generosity, with aid making up just 0.63 percent of the Budget overall.
“Australia’s development program reflects the values of our nation – and the strong links to our global neighbours. Australians back aid, recent polling shows 74 per cent of the nation support aid being maintained or increased. Aid is a cost-effective investment in regional stability and our own security.
Federal Budget holds for aid, but stronger investment needed in an increasingly unstable world
The Parenthood
Australia’s leading parent advocacy organisation, The Parenthood, said today’s Federal Budget was a missed opportunity to provide substantive support to millions of Australian families with young children.
“The vast majority of households now rely on two incomes just to stay afloat — and increasingly we are hearing from parents that simply trying to raise and provide for their family feels impossible,” Ms Dent said.
Budget fails to provide hip pocket relief for rising early education and care costs – The Parenthood
The Australia Institute
Scaling back tax breaks for property investors is the first policy change in a generation which will make housing more affordable, according to economists, following Tuesday’s Federal Budget.
“This is probably the single best thing in the budget,” said Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute. “It will have a lasting positive effect for so many people.”
If first home buyers are the big winners from the budget, the big losers are National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.
The government will slash more than $36 billion from the scheme, cutting out around 160,000 participants.
13 May 2026
