❓ The WA government acknowledges that community service organisations are experiencing financial stress due to the Fair Work Commission's Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) and is providing supplementary funding to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 5968Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 February 2020
Member
Portfolio
Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Have any organisations contacted the Department of Communities indicating they are under financial stress as a result of the Fair Work Commission's Equal Remuneration Order (ERO)? (2) If yes to (1), please provide details of: (a) the organisation; (b) the date on which the department was contacted; (c) whether the organisation has had its contract renegotiated as a result of the ERO; and (d) how much additional funding was provided to the organisation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 March 2020
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services
Response time
6 days
(1) Yes.
(2a-d) Various individual organisations have contacted the Department of Communities through a number of avenues to raise issues regarding the Equal Remuneration Order (ERO). There is no comprehensive register of this contact.
In 2019-20, the State Government is providing $1.9 million in supplementary funding for the 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7) National Housing and Homelessness Agreement services to support their round-the-clock wage costs.
The Government has also reinstated the original Non-Government Human Service Sector indexation calculation, which had been wound back by the previous Government. This has resulted in additional funding of $30.2 million being delivered to the community services sector over the next four years.
In December 2019, the State Government announced that supplementary funding of $60 million over four years would be made available to help community service providers meet the immediate cost impacts of the ERO.
The Departments of Communities, Treasury and Finance are currently working with sector peak bodies to identify principles and eligibility criteria to determine which services should be supplemented.
Funding to each organisation will be determined once the principles and eligibility criteria have been finalised. Contracts with individual organisations will not require renegotiation.
(2a-d) Various individual organisations have contacted the Department of Communities through a number of avenues to raise issues regarding the Equal Remuneration Order (ERO). There is no comprehensive register of this contact.
In 2019-20, the State Government is providing $1.9 million in supplementary funding for the 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7) National Housing and Homelessness Agreement services to support their round-the-clock wage costs.
The Government has also reinstated the original Non-Government Human Service Sector indexation calculation, which had been wound back by the previous Government. This has resulted in additional funding of $30.2 million being delivered to the community services sector over the next four years.
In December 2019, the State Government announced that supplementary funding of $60 million over four years would be made available to help community service providers meet the immediate cost impacts of the ERO.
The Departments of Communities, Treasury and Finance are currently working with sector peak bodies to identify principles and eligibility criteria to determine which services should be supplemented.
Funding to each organisation will be determined once the principles and eligibility criteria have been finalised. Contracts with individual organisations will not require renegotiation.
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