Page 4633 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990
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Treasurer, by chapter and verse, in the formal budget documentation undertook and guaranteed the continuation of central funding for two years. I am sure that will be drawn to the attention of the house by one of the Government speakers to follow me. That has been stated. It has been acknowledged in this house.
Does the Leader of the Opposition suggest that our Government would renege on that, having made this budget commitment and guaranteed indexation for that two-year period? You cannot seriously suggest it. We would have a riot on our hands. As you well know, not only do you have the undertaking and the word of this honourable man sitting beside me, and this prudent, careful Government but, as well, many of these grants are funded triennially. As you well know, that amounts to a contractual arrangement with those community service organisations that we cannot renege on.
I recall that on the day I moved into my office upstairs I found that close to $1m of community development funds had been approved, interestingly, just a few hours before the previous Government was kicked out. Ms Follett talks about emptying the coffers. That left me with little or no flexibility regarding an entire year's programs as a result of those rushed approvals done on the fifth floor hours before you were, quite properly, thrown out of office.
I table, for the information of members and the community, a discussion paper that has been widely circulated in the community by my ministry. It is entitled, "Community services grants program - a discussion paper". That discussion paper formed the basis of discussions for three large meetings I have held already; one in Weston, one at the Majura Centre, and one over at Pilgrim House, or in that vicinity.
The paper sets out the proposed criteria for future grants. It sets up a proposal for a community consultative body, a full ministerial advisory body which will advise the Minister direct on the community service grants programs. It finally breaks up the community grants programs. After all the wheeling and dealing that was associated with the Community Development Fund, particularly in the latter years when it was under Federal Labor dominance, it finally sets up a proper guaranteed structure.
The proposal is to break up the consultative movement into four main areas. There will be community infrastructure; that will represent and look after the regional community services, community development representative groups. There will be service delivery; that will be the category such as family support, emergency welfare, community support. Another area will be user rights and needs; and they will be those excellent services known to many of us, such as welfare rights, the advocacy services and the access and equity services. The fourth category, which I think is very important, will be called innovative
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