Media Release by The Hon Julie Collins MP

Federal commitment to struggling Queenslanders

Joint Media Release with:

  • Craig Emerson MP

    Minister for Trade and Competitiveness and Member for Rankin

    Graham Perrit MP

    Member for Moreton

The Australian Government will continue to provide strong support for struggling Queenslanders even as the Newman Government persists in cutting important social services, the Minister for Community Services, Julie Collins, said today.

Ms Collins made the commitment as she joined the Member for Rankin Craig Emerson and the Member for Moreton Graham Perrett in a visit to the Youth and Family Service in Logan City.

“The Australian Government understands the importance of the work of community organisations such as the Youth and Family Service,” Ms Collins said.

“They are a valuable source of support for those Australians not able to share in the nation’s prosperity.

“Helping the vulnerable and less advantaged members of our community is a priority for the Australian Government – and it should be the same for all governments.

“Unlike others, the Australian Government will not shirk its responsibility to provide the most vulnerable in our community with help, where and when they need it.”

The Australian Government has provided funds to a number of the programs run from YFS in Logan City, including:

  • $270,000 over three years for Commonwealth Financial Counselling
  • More than $1.4 million over four years for the Home Energy Saver Scheme
  • More than $1.1 million over three years for the Place Based Financial Management Program Service
  • More than $175,000 for the Emergency Relief program

“We have also committed close to $36.5 million to the Emergency Relief program in Queensland over three years,” Ms Collins said.

Mr Emerson said the Newman Government had cut $380 million from Queensland Community services – including its entire Emergency Relief program.

“Campbell Newman’s cuts have hit some of Logan’s most vulnerable people,” Mr Emerson said.

“These include the victims of domestic violence, people with mental health problems and those on rent support.

“The Australian Government understands how important it is that families and individuals have access to these services,” Mr Emerson said

“The Newman Government is instead telling Queenslanders hit by his savage cuts to community services to go and seek help from the Federal Government.”

Mr Perrett said the Gillard Government has already stepped in to keep open two services cut by the Newman Government – the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service and the Queensland Working Women’s Service.

“Our $3.3 million emergency funding for the TAAS means it can keep providing assistance to 80,000 Queensland households per year – helping to keep people in their homes and preventing homelessness.

“The Gillard Government’s $200,000 funding for the QWWS means female employees who have difficulty asserting their workplace rights still have somewhere to turn to for advice and assistance,” Mr Perrett said.