FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about cuts to the Family and Community Development Program.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I have recently been contacted by several non-government agencies, advocacy groups and councils concerned about the Rann government's decision to cut 23 per cent or $2 million from the $9 million Family and Community Development Program by 2013-14.

This important program assists, in part, councils across the state to deliver services and support for youth, low income earners, people with a disability and others at risk or suffering disadvantage. The assistance is primarily focused on early intervention and prevention to enhance social and emotional development.

In addition, local government was also involved in the neighbourhood houses and community centres sector using some funding from the Family and Community Development Program. The 2008-09 annual report for this subprogram states, in relation to outputs:

The community centres sector reportedly has two million contact hours per year. They also contribute more than 15,000 volunteer hours per week, equating to over $16 million per annum...

The cuts in this funding are placing this good work and the work of many others in jeopardy and will have significant ramifications on service delivery and support for communities in need at the coal face. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister support the work undertaken by local government using funding from the Family and Community Development Program?

2. Has the minister made representations to his cabinet colleague on the impact of this decision on local government?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:15): I thank the member for his very important question. First, I support local government's endeavours and what they do in regard to this funding. Secondly, I have not put a budgetary submission to cabinet. However, I will get all the information on where we are with this fund and endeavour to have it at the next session of parliament.