Consultation and research for the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee report for 2025–26 Budget

Consultations 

In preparing its report for the 2025–26 Budget, the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee is holding consultations with: 

• people with lived experience living on benefits 
• others who interact with the social security system in different ways.  

The committee is grateful to those who participate in these consultations, who help to guide advice and recommendations. 

Consultations are being undertaken with a range of people with lived experience of the social security system or economic exclusion, including: 

• First Nations peoples 
• young people 
• people with disability 
• carers of children and adults 
• people experiencing long-term unemployment 
• older people 
• people experiencing homelessness 
• people living in regional and remote areas 
• women who have experienced family violence. 

Following a competitive tender process, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) was selected as the lead organisation to coordinate and deliver consultation services to support the 2025 Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Report to Government. BSL is working with partner organisations to engage and support participants in the consultations. 

In addition, the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee is holding hearings with stakeholder organisations to: 

• hear their ideas and proposals to boost economic inclusion 
• share policy insights, research, analysis and experiences of people affected by the social security system.  

The following organisations were invited to participate in hearings to support the 2025 Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Report to Government. The hearings cover a range of areas relevant to the committee's deliberations. 

• e61 
• Australian Youth Affairs Coalition 
• Grattan Institute 
• Centre of Policy Development 
• The Paul Ramsay Foundation 
• Economic Justice Australia 
• The Committee for Economic Development of Australia 
• People with Disability Australia 
• Single Mother Families Australia 
• Council for Single Mothers and their Children 
• Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia 
• Coalition of Peaks 

Organisations interested in engaging with the committee and being considered for future hearings can register their interest by emailing eiac@dss.gov.au. 

Research 

The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has funding allocated to commission research and analysis to support its work. Research is procured by the Department of Social Services in line with Commonwealth Procurement Rules. 

For its 2025–26 Budget report, the committee has commissioned research on the following matters. The research topics are listed with the organisations procured by the department. 

• Cost of children estimates – Australian National University. 
• Updated budget standards estimates – University of New South Wales. 
• Impact of JobSeeker Payment and Parenting Payment on Victim-Survivors Escaping Domestic Violence – Social Ventures Australia. 
• An investment-based (actuarial) case for a rise in JobSeeker, including quantitative analysis of the costs and benefits from a rise in JobSeeker – Mandala. 
• Impact of Poverty – University of New South Wales. This research draws on a literature review to quantify the economic and social cost of poverty in Australia.