Australia was facing not a budget crisis but a values crisis, a summit of community groups representing some 5 million citizens declared on the eve of the 2017-18 Federal Budget.
The People’s Budget summit, comprising 100 representatives from 73 organisations, converged on Canberra to discuss what a budget would look like which prioritised real needs rather than political imperatives.
#PeoplesBudget pic.twitter.com/OdLQ46aMrE
— CYDA (@CDA39) May 8, 2017
Spearheaded by the Australian Council of Social Service, #peoplesbudget canvassed a broad agenda, reflecting the diverse groups represented — from unions and relief and development organisations to Indigenous advocates, legal and justice bodies, environmental and even animal rights groups.
‘Every line in a Budget is about our lives and our communities.”#peoplesbudget
— ACOSS (@ACOSS) May 8, 2017
An esteemed list of colleagues to be crafting the #PeoplesBudget with pic.twitter.com/nhiqkAxHEW
— VC-ACT (@VolACT) May 8, 2017
Their take home message? Though a political exercise, the Federal Budget had a profoundly personal impact, reaching into homes and hip-pockets across Australia.
Despite this, the summit said the government had lost sight of who the Budget was actually for: the people.
We don’t have a budget crisis, we have a values crisis #PeoplesBudget #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/CsNvTa5J53
— UnionsACT (@UnionsACT) May 8, 2017
Foreshadowing Tuesday night’s budget as one that would further erode conditions for young people, the unemployed and those living in poverty, the summit called for a renewed focus on fairness and equity, including funding for climate change action.
Some of the strong values messages that came out of today’s #PeoplesBudget #auspol pic.twitter.com/qNI9VzGMkM
— Marcia Balzer (@marcia_balzer) May 8, 2017
What do we want from #Budget2017? #PeoplesBudget @SNAICC @congressmob @Change_Record pic.twitter.com/OgY0eZCVv9
— NATSILS (@NATSILS_) May 8, 2017
What we want #PeoplesBudget #healthbudget17 pic.twitter.com/Sv116eP35q
— Lyn Morgain (@MsLynM) May 8, 2017
What do real people want to see in #Budget2017 ? Put people first #PeoplesBudget pic.twitter.com/dHSNIymV39
— CPSU (@CPSUnion) May 8, 2017
A #PeoplesBudget creates jobs, gives everyone access to healthcare and education, and makes big corporations pay their fair share pic.twitter.com/i0EdHAKA6Q
— UnionsACT (@UnionsACT) May 8, 2017
What we want #PeoplesBudget #healthbudget17 pic.twitter.com/AnR4qwaUYO
— Lyn Morgain (@MsLynM) May 8, 2017
We want jobs because they give dignity and inclusion & a fair tax system #PeoplesBudget pic.twitter.com/lFkaX7yrBX
— Lyn Morgain (@MsLynM) May 8, 2017
The #peoplesbudget tweetstream is well worth checking out, we’ve selected a few of our favourites below. Keep the conversation going at #healthbudget17, we’d love to hear your thoughts.