Charities and community welfare groups are calling on the federal government to urgently commit to a national anti-poverty plan.

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and four of the country’s largest charities issued the call to coincide with the re-election of the Howard government. The time has come to make the most of Australia’s economic strength to help the most vulnerable groups in society, they said.

“With two million people living in poverty in Australia, we call on this government to urgently address this matter,” said ACOSS President Andrew McCallum.

The call came ahead of the 2004 ACOSS Congress, held in Alice Springs, at which speakers expressed concern about the outlook for the welfare sector over the coming term of government.

NAPWA vice-president David Menadue, who attended the congress, said the mood of the gathering seemed ‘tired and demoralised’ following the election. The government’s planned changes to the Disability Support Pension, which would reduce the cut-off point for eligibility, based on individuals’ deemed working capability, from 30 to 15 hours a week, and the Charities Bill, which would revoke the tax-exempt status of organisations involved in political advocacy, are two of the major challenges ahead for the sector, he said.

“Poverty continues to be a major concern in our communities,” Menadue said. “More than one-quarter of positive people are below the poverty line, and many struggle to pay for basic necessities, plus they have to find money for out-of-pocket health costs which have continued to rise.”