00:00For most COVID-19 restrictions are now just a memory but for some the resulting financial
00:09strain is anything but. For people on the lowest incomes including those on income support we have
00:14some of the highest rates of rental stress in Australia. Set up in 2023 to help tenants facing
00:21severe financial stress the CARE financial administered rent relief fund provides grants
00:26of up to four weeks of rent or $2,500. The program ends on June 30 with the government insisting
00:34legislative changes and other assistance measures will bridge the gap. Those include a now permanent
00:39$50 increase to the low income electricity gas and water rebate to $800. Ultimately there are options
00:48available for people in the community to get in touch with their landlord to negotiate a payment plan
00:55and all of those things should be taken into account. What we need is a system of rebates that enables
01:04people to live reasonable lives. This certainly was an essential part of that arsenal of rebates.
01:12It needs to continue. Some organisations themselves aren't sure if they'll receive further territory
01:17funding just weeks out from the new financial year. We may need to close our office and close layoff staff
01:25and potentially not continue. If it is refunded it's going to have to sort of get going again. Whereas if it had
01:33known three months ago it could have just been doing smooth business as usual. The government says the timing
01:38of the federal election delayed some budget decisions. Much of that has now been communicated and I know that my
01:44colleagues across the ministry have been having conversations. Some of those are more private ones.
01:50There'll be a more public declaration of government funding intentions when the budget is handed down next week.
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