FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (16:55): Well, we all know you are incapable of coming up with a second question. Hendrik is not paid enough to give you a second question, mate.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Mr Gazzola should ask his question.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Thank you, sir.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Finished?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: They're thin skinned! My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Minister, will you inform the council how the Weatherill Labor government is helping communities through the Family and Community Development Fund?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (16:56): I thank the honourable member for his important question and I acknowledge his ongoing interest in this area. The Family and Community Development Fund Program, through Community Connect, continues to support and promote services that advance the welfare of children, youth and other sections of the community. The program includes five sub-programs: Families with Children, Neighbourhood Development, Young People, Low Income Support, and Industry Support and Development.

In 2010-11 the state budget decision was made to cut funding to the program by 23 per cent. That decision was made in tough economic times—an economic climate that has meant that governments around the world had to tighten their belts—but we heard the community come to the government and express their concerns about these budget cuts. The Weatherill Labor government has once again shown that it is listening and responding to the concerns of the community. The sector lobbied and showed the direct impact their work has on the lives of people in the community. They talked to politicians, they explained their work that they do for the community, and the government acknowledged that we made a mistake.

Funding has now been reinstated to the Family and Community Development Fund Program through the budget mid-year review process. This means that funding for programs that support the most disadvantaged people in the state will remain at their current levels. Funding for the current financial year is $9,055,000. Over the next three years, the budget for the fund is as follows: 2012-13, $9,395,000; 2013-14, $9,770,000; and 2014-15, $10,160,000.

The Labor government will continue to ensure that the most disadvantaged in our community will be supported by realigning service delivery to meet today's community needs and the needs of the community into the future. The government is continuing to review the Family and Community Development Fund—a review initiated by the former minister. The review process will allow for the identification in gaps in service delivery as well as identification of existing programs that are providing a great service to their local community.

I will consider the recommendations from the review about the future direction of the program as they are presented to me and I indicate now that I will be consulting with the sector over that review. During this review period, all service agreements currently under the Family and Community Development Program will remain valid until 30 June 2012.