submissions

The Doctors Reform Society of Australia is concerned about the potential adverse health and societal impacts of two aspects of the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016.

1. The bill proposes a $1.3 billion cut to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) over the coming 5 years. Many renewable energy researchers believe this likely to have serious negative impacts on renewable energy science in this country.

As a health organisation, we recognise the serious threat that climate change poses to health, both now and increasingly in the future. International health researchers believe climate change to be the biggest global health threat of our century. We believe that Australia needs to play a vigorous role in mitigating climate change. Clean energy technologies will be a vital part of such mitigation.

Cutting funding to such mitigation efforts would be a serious false economy.

2. The bill proposes to cut $4.40 per week from the energy supplement to Newstart recipients. New Newstart recipients receive a payment significantly below the poverty line, and this new cut would reportedly take these people 32% below the poverty line. International evidence finds that less generous unemployment payments are associated with poorer return-to-work outcomes. Inequality and poverty are important drivers of poor health outcomes.

We ask that the committee strike these budget measures from the bill. Indeed, we believe Australia should go further than this, and increase support for renewable energy and unemployed people.

Yours sincerely

Dr Brett Montgomery

on behalf of the Doctors Reform Society