In the lead up to the 2025 federal election (held on 3 May 2025), NCQ listened to Neighbourhood Centres needs to deliver the first federal election policy platform with six key priorities to government. NCQ and Neighbourhood Centres shared the platform, seeking commitments for the recommendations from all Queensland-based elected federal representatives and senators from all parties.
NCQ’s political advocacy work starts and ends with the voice and participation of Neighbourhood Centres. The Federal Election Platform built on the insights and consultation work from the State Election Policy Platform, adapting it to the Federal context alongside discussions with the national peak body ANHCA.
Our six key priorities for the 2025 federal election included:
1. Improve national social policy outcomes with community data and insights from over 1,000 Neighbourhood Centres by resourcing ANHCA to lead coordinated research and impact reporting nationwide.
2. Deliver a Neighbourhood Centre for every Queenslander by investing in community infrastructure and building on state government investment
3. Ensure Queensland communities can recover faster from disasters by reforming Commonwealth and State Disaster arrangements to support place-based and community-led disaster preparedness, response and recovery through Neighbourhood Centres
4. Revitalise volunteering in local communities by funding Neighbourhood Centres for volunteer coordination
5. Ensure face-to-face Emergency Relief is available to people in crisis facing cost-of-living emergencies by increasing targeted federal Emergency Relief and funding wages for delivery through Neighbourhood Centres
6. Support rural and remote access to critical Commonwealth services by providing adequate support to Neighbourhood Centres
The election policy platform was shared with all twelve Senators from Queensland and all 30 Federal Representatives from Queensland.
View the 2025 Federal Election Policy Platform here.
