There's fear the vulnerable across a broad cross-section of Australian society could be targeted to cut the budget deficit.
The federal budget has been handed down to a mixed reaction from a range of different sectors across the Australian economy and society.
Amongst the concerns of many is how the budget will affects those in the nation's multicultural and indigenous communities.
The government aims to cut the budget deficit from almost $40 billion ($37.1 billion) this financial year to just $6 billion in the 2019/2020 financial year.
And there's fear the vulnerable across a broad cross-section of Australian society could be targeted.
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) C-E-O, Cassandra Goldie, argues there have already been considerable cuts to welfare payments, and disadvantage any further cuts would those Australians who can least afford it.
ACOSS welcomes the government's plan to spend more than $100 million to help those at risk of long-term welfare dependency.
But they reject the trial of the government's controversial cashless welfare card being expanded to a third site.
It quarantines at least 80 per cent of a person's welfare payments, which cannot be used to buy alcohol or for gambling.
Ms Goldie says the measure plays on stereotypes of welfare recipients, particularly Indigenous welfare recipients.
