❓ The government is reviewing the funeral assistance program, acknowledging it needs a permanent home but assuring that current arrangements are similar to previous ones, with a dedicated contact person in the Department for Child Protection.
AnsweredQoN 818Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FUNERAL ASSISTANCE — REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
Given that the Premier has previously advised this house that the review of the funeral assistance program has been completed — (1) What arrangements are in place to replace that program? (2) When will the government reassure Western Australians that WA is no longer the only state in the country that does not offer financial assistance for funeral costs to those in dire economic need? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
Given that the Premier has previously advised this house that the review of the funeral assistance program has been completed — (1) What arrangements are in place to replace that program? (2) When will the government reassure Western Australians that WA is no longer the only state in the country that does not offer financial assistance for funeral costs to those in dire economic need? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
(1) What arrangements are in place to replace that program? (2) When will the government reassure Western Australians that WA is no longer the only state in the country that does not offer financial assistance for funeral costs to those in dire economic need? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
(2) When will the government reassure Western Australians that WA is no longer the only state in the country that does not offer financial assistance for funeral costs to those in dire economic need? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
(1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
(1) What arrangements are in place to replace that program? (2) When will the government reassure Western Australians that WA is no longer the only state in the country that does not offer financial assistance for funeral costs to those in dire economic need? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
(2) When will the government reassure Western Australians that WA is no longer the only state in the country that does not offer financial assistance for funeral costs to those in dire economic need? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
I thank the member for her question. (1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
(1)-(2) The current arrangements in place are very similar to the previous arrangements. There is a person in the Department for Child Protection to whom we are referring all the phone calls from people who need assistance. We are still reviewing the best place to put the funeral assistance program. I do not believe it belongs in Child Protection, but it does belong somewhere. It has yet to be decided whether in the short term we keep it in Child Protection or put it elsewhere. However, the people of this state must understand that this is a caring and compassionate government and that we are burying people with dignity.
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