In yet another example of warped budget priorities, the Liberals have reduced funding for community organisations while spending a billion dollars on a stadium. The Minister’s patronising response to sector concerns shows scant respect for the important work they do in the community.
Last week many community service organisations entered the budget lock-up with no idea if their core funding would be renewed. This was incredibly stressful for organisations, who didn’t know whether they could continue to provide programs to support the community beyond the end of the month.
Many organisations have now been told of budget funding that simply does not cover the costs of meeting community need, meaning they are having to make impossible decisions about which services to reduce or cut.
The Minister’s response to sector concerns was despicable. On Friday, at the TasCOSS Budget Briefing, he told concerned organisations, “If you’ve got a funding agreement with an end date on it, you need to be planning for that to end and to not be depending on it”.
The Minister condescendingly told community service organisations they should be looking for budget efficiencies and becoming more innovative to manage their effective funding decreases. This was cold comfort for those in the sector, who do their best to support the community on the smell of an oily rag.
Meanwhile, the Liberals are continuing to spend a billion dollars on a stadium, rather than funding community services. The Minister should be fighting for funding which allows community organisations to continue their important work – not a billion-dollar stadium.
