MADELEINE KING MP
LABOR’S WA CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS
MEMBER FOR BRAND
 
SENATOR LOUISE PRATT
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR UNIVERSITIES
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EQUALITY
LABOR SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
 
SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
 
LABOR WILL SUPPORT PEOPLE IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
 

A Shorten Labor Government will provide $40 million over four years to emergency relief organisations across the country, including over $5 million for organisations across Western Australia. 
 
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for stronger community services, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals. 
 
The Morrison Government is slashing funding to vital emergency relief services. 
 
Labor will reverse the Liberals’ cuts to emergency relief organisations and provide a much needed funding boost to the sector.  
 
This will boost the ability of these grassroots organisations to deliver critical support to people when they need it most.  
 
The Liberals’ cruel cuts will make it harder for people facing extreme financial hardship to have a basic quality of life and get by.  
 
Unlike the Liberals who only stand up for the top end of town, Labor will always support Australians doing it tough.   
 
A Shorten Labor Government will reverse the Liberals’ cuts to emergency relief services across Western Australia by providing additional funding over the next four years, including:   

• $260,000 for UnitingCare West.
• $1,622,000 for Australian Red Cross Society.
• $612,000 for Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia.
• $30,000 for South West Refuge.
• $50,000 for Multicultural Services Centre of Western Australia Incorporated.
• $78,000 for Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust.
• $256,000 for WestAus Crisis and Welfare Services.
• $41,000 for Youth Futures WA.
• $483,000 for Sussex Street Community Law Service.
• $88,000 for Fremantle Multicultural Centre.
• $282,000 for Central Agcare Incorporated.

 Without this funding, many of these organisations will be forced to turn away vulnerable people seeking assistance or have to cut the services they offer.  
 
Over the next four years, Labor will also provide a funding boost to organisations providing emergency relief across Western Australia, including: 

• $136,000 for Communicare.
• $202,000 for St Vincent De Paul Society (WA).
• $277,000 for The Salvation Army (Western Australia).
• $36,000 for Margaret River Community Centre Inc.
• $42,000 for Wungening Aboriginal Corporation.
• $19,000 for Italo-Australian Welfare Cultural Centre.
• $20,000 for Save the Children Australia.
• $31,000 for Indigo Junction Incorporated.
• $30,000 for The Spiers Centre Inc.
• $73,000 for Jacaranda Community Centre.
• $13,000 for St Patrick's Community Support Centre Limited.
• $20,000 for Esperance Care Services.
• $335,000 for Centacare Kimberley Association Inc.
• $12,000 for Newman Women's Shelter Inc.
• $16,000 for Regional Alliance West Incorporated.
• $15,000 for Wunan Foundation Inc.
• $16,000 for The Roman Catholic Bishop of Geraldton Centacare Family Services.
• $15,000 for Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation.

These services provide support to vulnerable people who have nowhere else to turn by providing food hampers, funding for fuel to attend specialist medical appointments and other financial assistance.   
 
The charities and not-for-profits that do this work are increasingly stretched and need more resources.   
 
A Shorten Labor Government will also support Australians in financial hardship by:   

• Doubling the number of financial counsellors across the country.    
• Expanding low-cost alternatives to pay day loans for low-income Australians, providing safe and fair credit options when things get tough.   
• Reversing the Morrison Government’s $5.5 million cut to emergency relief organisations across the country and providing a much needed top up to the emergency relief sector.    

“The uncaring Liberals have entirely ignored the many financially vulnerable  Australians falling through the cracks. The obscene and embarrassing delay of the hopeless Morrison Government to implement its very own pay day lending reform is just one example of this," said Madeleine King, Labor's Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs.
 
"The Liberals are consumed by cuts, chaos and Clive Palmer. This has left Australians in financial hardship suffering because the Liberals simply do not care. We need real change - because more of the same isn’t good enough,” said Ms King. 
 
Many vulnerable Australians are falling through the cracks. Labor will make sure our charities and not-for-profits have the resources they need to support our fellow Australians.   
 
End the chaos. Vote for change. Vote for Labor.
 
Funding for this commitment has been included in Labor’s Fair Go Budget Plan, available at http://www.alp.org.au/labors_fiscal_plan
 
SATURDAY, 11 MAY 2019  

MEDIA CONTACT: LABOR CAMPAIGN MEDIA - 02 9165 8299