The St Vincent de Paul Society hosted an information session at Parliament House, Canberra, on 6 November to present the ANU-commissioned report, A Fairer Tax and Welfare System 2025. National President Mark Gaetani opened the event and emceed the session, welcoming parliamentarians, community sector partners, and colleagues from across the Society.

Associate Professor Ben Phillips provided a clear and engaging overview of the report’s modelling, which outlines several budget-neutral options capable of lifting up to one million Australians out of poverty. 
The paper highlights how modest adjustments to tax concessions for the highest-wealth superannuation accounts could fully fund increases to working-age payments and strengthen Australia’s safety net.

These findings formed the basis of the Society’s submission to this year’s Parliamentary Economic Inclusion Roundtable in August, where we urged the Australian Government to prioritise evidence-based reforms that improve the lives of people doing it toughest.

The Society extends its sincere thanks to the Member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost MP, for generously hosting the event, and expresses appreciation to National Council members, parliamentarians, and representatives from faith-based and community organisations who attended. Guests stayed on for light refreshments, providing an opportunity to continue conversations about the report’s findings and their importance for creating a fairer Australia.

While at Parliament House, several State Council Presidents met with parliamentarians from their respective States to discuss key issues, with some follow-up meetings arranged in electorate offices.