The Persephone Network Budget Response
This year’s budget is a promising start to pursuing intergenerational equity, but it is just that: a start. The Treasurer’s acknowledgement of “our intergenerational responsibilities” is welcomed, but ultimately is a first step on a long road to intergenerational equity.
A genuine commitment to “future generations” must include consideration of the future challenges they will face. The omission of climate change, a myopic reform of negative gearing, and no mention of domestic or international human rights protections is a signal that while this Government cares about its “intergenerational responsibilities,” that care does not extend beyond the next five financial years.
Levelling up intergenerational and intersectional collaboration and leadership
While the Women’s Budget Statement does highlight the importance of investing in and supporting women’s leadership, none of the statistics are disaggregated by age. Intersectionality is mentioned, but there is nothing about young women or young people. This government has been the most ambitious government for gender equality that we have seen in decades, and they have made significant reforms since 2022. However, this budget did not really tick anything off the gender equality to-do list. There seems to be no new funding committed in this budget to young people’s leadership, despite an emphasis placed on the importance of “future generations”.
Economic security and justice
Housing reform saw both wins and losses, with significant support for young people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
- The $59.4 million to supplement rental income for Community Housing Providers is a significant and targeted initiative, providing housing for over 4000 young people aged 16-24 who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It represents a definite win, with investment truly going where it is needed most.
- Adding to this, the $2.0 billion Local Infrastructure Fund will support local and state governments in delivering essential infrastructure needed to support new housing.
- The Government says reforming negative gearing and capital gains tax arrangements will tilt the market towards first home buyers, estimating that around 75,000 people will be assisted to buy their first home. Specifically, for gains accruing from 1 July 2027, the 50 per cent CGT discount will be removed and replaced with cost base indexation and a 30 per cent minimum tax rate on capital gains. Returning the framework to indexation aligns with its original intent and is expected to trigger a modest but positive reduction in house price growth. While these changes, alongside limiting negative gearing to new builds, are welcome, the grandfathering of properties held prior to the announcement will significantly limit their immediate impact.
In the Treasurer’s speech, Jim Chalmers spoke about rebalancing the scales away from those who already hold significant wealth and towards those trying to build it. We hope these measures are the first move in that direction, but more ambitious reform will be needed to deliver a genuinely fair go.
Freedom from violence
Gendered violence is an unacceptable tragedy in Australia, and it is welcome that this Budget recognises it as a national priority. Gender equality is not possible without physical safety — and safety requires prevention, enforcement, and properly funded services. This Budget includes meaningful measures to address technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including investments in consent education and $5.4 million for the eSafety Commissioner. These are important steps towards safer online environments for young women and girls, alongside support for programs like Healthy MaTE. Key measures include:
- $77.6 million for age-appropriate consent and respectful relationships education, reaching 5.9 million people.
- Extending trauma-informed police training to 6,100 police members to support more consistent, victim-survivor-centred responses.
- $11.7 million to fund the Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties Scheme, including a ban on victim-survivors being cross-examined by perpetrators in family law proceedings.
- $182.6 million to address known misuse of the Child Support Scheme, aiming to make the system safer and more effective for families (with around $2 billion in debt across 229,235 paying parents, an average of $8,699).
- $218.3 million for the First Nations Action Plan to build a national, locally led network of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations delivering specialist family, domestic and sexual violence services, and to extend the Leaving Violence Program regional trials to 2027.
- $5.4 million for the eSafety Commissioner, including reforms targeting technology-facilitated abuse and a proposed digital duty of care to restrict access to harmful content for young people.
These changes are welcome, but the scale of the crisis remains enormous. Right now, too many victim-survivors still cannot access domestic, family, or sexual violence support services when or where they need them.
A safe future for all
This Budget was notably silent on strengthening human rights protections, a clear priority that young people raised throughout consultation. It also gave limited attention to the climate crisis, despite the disproportionate impacts on young people and communities already facing structural disadvantage, including First Nations peoples. This is particularly egregious given the reduction in NDIS spending, which is likely to disproportionately impact women and young women who often bear increased caring responsibilities and face significant barriers to accessing health services without the creation of other support mechanisms. More broadly, the Budget largely responds to urgent, immediate pressures without consistently applying an intergenerational lens in practice. There is little focus on the long-term durability of measures, or on how intersecting crises compound for marginalised communities.
Conclusion
Young people expected more, particularly given the Government’s repeated commitments to intergenerational equity. We acknowledge this Budget as a step forward, but meaningful progress will require sustained, long-term investment and structural reform. We look forward to continuing to engage with the Government to help build a safer, fairer future for young people and for the generations that follow. Asha Clementi and Mehvish Mehboob The Persephone Network
About The Persephone Network
Asha Clementi and Mehvish Mehboob are members of The Persephone Network (TPN), a youth-led feminist network building women’s leadership through collective action, community, and practical pathways to impact. TPN creates spaces where emerging leaders can connect, learn, and organise, grounded in lived experience and honest conversation. Born from the need to bridge gaps in the feminist movement, TPN collaborates with partners and communities to convene, resource, and advocate for a bold, inclusive, and effective movement for gender equality.
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