2015 Budget: Support for community-based financial services 13 May 2015 4:20PM John Kavanagh There were several small measures in last night's 2015 Budget papers that will affect parts of the financial services industry, particularly those in the community sector:* The Government will provide A$7.8 million over four years from 2015/16 to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to implement and monitor a regulatory framework to facilitate the use of crowd-source equity funding, including simplified reporting and disclosure requirements. The Government said crowdfunding had the potential to increase funding options available to entrepreneurs.* The Government will provide $4.9 million over the next three years to support community development financial institutions. These institutions, which provide affordable finance to people who are otherwise unable to get credit, include Fair Loans Foundation, Many Rivers Microfinance and Foresters Community Finance.* The Government will provide $63.4 million over five years to support microfinance services that assist people on low incomes. The services include StepUP, the No Interest Loans Scheme and Saver Plus.* The Government will establish a concessional loan facility of up to A$5 billion, with the objective of increasing private sector investment in infrastructure in northern Australia. The loan facility will be open for applications from July. The Government will borrow to finance the loan facility. There was no mention of private sector involvement in the scheme.