A broad coalition of Australian community organisations has called on the Federal Government to introduce a gas export tax and reform housing tax breaks in the 2026 federal budget.

A joint statement, signed by more than 50 organisations including ACOSS, Foodbank Australia, Jesuit Social Services, National Shelter, Single Mother Families Australia Inc, People with Disability Australia, and the Public Health Association of Australia, calls for a 25% levy on exported gas and reform of capital gains tax and negative gearing.

The measures are contained in ACOSS’ 2026 budget submission, released today, which also calls for a significant increase to income support and home energy upgrades to all social housing and private rentals.

The submission calls the government to:

Halve the 50% CGT discount progressively over 5 years and end negative gearing immediately for new investments with a phase out over 5 years for existing investments
Introduce a 25% levy on gas export revenue and phase out the diesel fuel rebate for mining companies
Increase income support payments, such as JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payment, to at least $600 per week and substantially lift the Remote Area Allowance
Set and fund national social housing targets to increase social housing to at least 6% of homes over a decade and 10% of homes over two decades, calibrated to alleviate housing stress and homelessness
Fix employment services by removing the harmful Targeted Compliance Framework and redesign employment services so they genuinely help people to get paid work
Provide energy upgrades to all social housing and private renters to reduce energy bills and improve health outcomes.

#aus

https://www.acoss.org.au/joint-statement-on-tax-and-spending/

A 24 year old Indigenous Canadian woman named Heather Winterstein died of sepsis after ER staff dismissed her repeatedly and labeled her as a homeless addict.

There’s an inquest into her death that shows her falling to the floor in the ER and still being ignored.

Bias, bigotry, misogyny and racism can determine the care you receive in the hospital .

I was Heather’s age when I experienced a life threatening complication after my hysterectomy

Like her I was sent home from the ER multiple times

Told I was exaggerating.

Attention seeking

Deemed a trouble maker

On my fourth visit my then boyfriend had to carry me in because I couldn’t even sit up

He had to raise his voice and cause a scene

He said he was refusing to take me home to die, and he firmly believed that’s what would happen

Triage called security who threatened to call police

They would rather arrest him than treat me

Thankfully a doctor heard him yelling and came to look in on me and instantly realized something was wrong

Within hours I was being rushed to a larger hospital for emergency surgery

I had been bleeding internally the entire time and developed a huge infected abscess

Had they treated me earlier, my survival odds would have been much better

Instead I very nearly lost my life and ended up spending a month in the hospital

I was one of the lucky ones

No one’s survival should ever be based on luck, race, money or privilege

Yet more often than not those things determine who lives and who dies

My heart is heavy for Heather and all who knew and loved her

We must do better

We must believe and listen to patients

We must strive to treat everyone equally

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/livestory/heather-winterstein-inquiry-st-catharines-indigenous-9.7167775

#disability #chronicillness #ableism #eugenics #healthcare #bias