SOCIAL INCLUSION UNIT

In reply to Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (6 March 2013).

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I am advised:

Dr McFetridge's question suggests he may be confusing the Social Inclusion Expenses budget with the Net Cost of Services budget.

In the 2012-13 Budget Papers, the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion reported that Sub-program 5.4: Social Inclusion had a 2012-13 Expenses budget of $4.918m, an Income budget of $0.384m and a Net Cost of Services budget of $4.534m.

It is evident from these figures that there has been no blow out in the costs of the Social Inclusion Unit.

Last year's (2012-13) budget papers did not identify expenditure on the social inclusion program at $4.534m. The $4.534m amount is actually the net cost of the service when the income budget of $0.384m is deducted from the expenditure budget of $4.918m.