SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES

FIONA PHILLIPS
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR GILMORE

LABOR WILL REVERSE LIBERAL CUTS & BOOST FUNDING TO SOUTH COAST EMERGENCY RELIEF ORGANISATIONS

A Shorten Labor Government will provide $40 million over four years delivering needed funding for emergency relief organisations across the country.

The money will reverse Liberal cuts to emergency relief organisations and provide a much needed funding top up to the sector, including to the organisations that work on the south coast.

Relief organisations support vulnerable Australians who have nowhere else to turn by providing assistance like food hampers, transport vouchers and financial assistance.

The charities and not-for-profits that do this work are increasingly stretched and need more resources.

The Morrison Government is stopping the funding for many emergency relief services at the end of the year. This will see community organisations being forced to close their doors or slash the services they offer.

Labor will reverse these cuts and also deliver a much needed funding boost to the sector.

This funding will allow organisations to continue the work they do to help financially vulnerable people on the south coast.

Over the next four years Labor will provide further funding of around $42,000 for Southern Youth and Family Services Limited to be delivered locally on the south coast.

There will also be funding and increases for larger organizations that deliver services to a number of regions including on the south coast including:

• $588,000 for Anglican Community Services for the services they deliver in the on the south coast and across the state,
• $181,000 for Mission Australia  for the services they deliver on the south coast and nationally,
• $317,000 for Wesley Community Services for the services they deliver on the south coast and across the state,
• $596,000 for St Vincent De Paul for the services they deliver on the south coast and across the state, and
• $3,053,000 for the Salvation Army for the services they deliver on the south coast and nationally.

Many Australians are falling through the cracks. Labor will make sure our charities have the resources they need to support our fellow Australians, especially children.

Labor is calling on the Government to reverse cuts to emergency relief organisations, ensuring communities have the services they need.

This is all a part of Labor’s plan to support Australians in financial hardship.

Labor will double the number of financial counsellors across the country supporting people who are in a debt spiral.

Labor will expand low-cost alternatives to pay day loans for low-income Australians, providing safe and fair credit options when things get tough.

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER SAID:

“Emergency relief organisations help Australians who are falling through the cracks.

“The Government needs to reverse their emergency relief cuts and make sure that organisations providing services have funding into the future.

“The Morrison Government is chaotic and divided, and vulnerable people on the South Coast are paying the price. It is time that we had a local representative that will put community before their own self-interest.”

LABOR CANDIDATE FOR GILMORE, FIONA PHILLIPS SAID:

“Relief organisations such as Southern Youth and Family Services provide incredibly important support to families in need of help.

“I’ve met many families who have accessed these services when things have got tough.”

“Labor will make sure that relief organisations on the South Coast have the resources they need to support Australians who have nowhere else to turn.”

THURSDAY, 28 MARCH 2019

MEDIA CONTACT: NATHAN ROBERTSON 0436 632 388