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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-04-29 Daily Xml
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COVID-19 Relief Call Centre

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Can the minister please provide an update to the council about how the Marshall Liberal government is providing relief to South Australians through a new relief hotline in response to COVID-19?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for her question. I know that she has a strong interest in this area, as she and I have a number of conversations about people and how they can access support and assistance during this crisis. The South Australian government has established a relief call centre which is specifically dedicated for people who may be experiencing personal hardship or need information about accommodation. We have also stood up through Red Cross, the Telecross service which contacts vulnerable people at home. People can register themselves or someone they love to receive that phone call to assist them.

We have also provided additional funding to a range of hardship support welfare organisations and food security organisations to assist people who may be struggling at home. I am really pleased that we have managed to establish a statewide network for anybody who needs to receive food assistance or that emergency relief. We have a number of agencies that operate in regional South Australia and in metropolitan South Australia who provide that emergency relief. They would often have contact with people who were experiencing hardship, but there are obviously a number of other people in our community who have not experienced this level of financial pain in the past who now are needing assistance.

In addition, the commonwealth government has provided additional support. My understanding is it funds something like 80 per cent of the emergency relief and food relief to organisations around Australia, and a number of those have also received assistance through them.

The COVID-19 Relief Call Centre number is 1300 705 336, so for anybody who is experiencing particular financial hardship they can contact that number and they will be provided advice about where they can go to get that assistance. We also know there are particularly some elderly people who may not be connected through the My Aged Care system or through existing service providers who may be self-isolating. We encourage anyone who is in that situation to contact that number so that they can gain that assistance.

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