The Abbott Governments failure to support community organisations in Melbournes South-East has been highlighted by the release of the Governments new arrangements for emergency relief provision.
The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP
Shadow Attorney General
Shadow Minister for the Arts
Member for Isaacs
13 March 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
ABBOTTS PLAN FOR SOCIAL SERVICES FAILS MELBOURNES SOUTH-EAST
The Abbott Governments failure to support community organisations in Melbournes South-East has been highlighted by the release of the Governments new arrangements for emergency relief provision.
This follows the Governments cuts to local community organisations, many of which have received federal funding for over a decade.
Member for Isaacs, Mark Dreyfus said that the Abbott Government is hurting the most vulnerable in our community.
Since the Governments announcement to make drastic cuts to essential community organisations in Melbournes South-East, the question has been, who will take over the services of these organisations when the funding runs out? Mr Dreyfus said.
It is now clear that the Abbott Government has no answer.
Many of the defunded community organisations deliver niche services, including to-the-door emergency relief, or culturally-specific advocacy.
The organisations tasked with taking over these services, despite their best intentions, simply do not have the history or the resources to take on many of these projects.
How can the Government expect an umbrella organisation to know how to run home care projects for the Cambodian Association, after-school homework classes for African Communities Foundation Australia or specialised peer-to-peer support for Dads in Distress Support Services? Mr Dreyfus said.
If it wasnt already clear, it is now beyond doubt that this Government simply does not have a clue when it comes to delivering social services.
I again call on Scott Morrison and the Abbott Government to restore funding to the defunded community organisations that deliver essential services to our community, Mr Dreyfus said.
A list of providers under the Governments New Arrangements is attached.
Community organisations that service the Isaacs electorate that have been defunded include:
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Dads in Distress Support Services
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Cambodian Association of Victoria
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Springvale Benevolent Society
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Dandenong Benevolent Society
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Casey Cardinia Legal Service
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Vietnamese Community in Australia Victorian Chapter
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African Communities Foundation Australia
