❓ Mr. Krsticevic asks the Premier about additional funding for the not-for-profit sector to address the needs of vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic. The Premier responds by highlighting existing support measures, including energy assistance payments and funding for wage pressures, homelessness services, and social housing.
AnsweredQoN 161Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR
161. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
Given that the World Health
Organization has told governments that they must act now to flatten the curve
and reduce the spread of coronavirus, can the Premier outline how much
additional funding the not-for-profit sector will get to flatten the curve
amongst the hundreds of thousands of vulnerable, homeless, aged and recently
unemployed who need the help now?
161. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
Given that the World Health
Organization has told governments that they must act now to flatten the curve
and reduce the spread of coronavirus, can the Premier outline how much
additional funding the not-for-profit sector will get to flatten the curve
amongst the hundreds of thousands of vulnerable, homeless, aged and recently
unemployed who need the help now?
AnswerView source ↗
Yesterday, as part of our response, we provided support
to lower income Western Australians through the energy assistance payment—that
is, 300 000 lower income Western Australians received support through that
program, which was far more than anyone
thought we would or that anyone even asked for. That was welcomed by the not- for-profit
sector.
Yesterday, Louise Giolitto, the head of the Western Australian
Council of Social Service, spoke on ABC regional radio. According to my notes,
she said —
I
think the freeze will support everybody across the sector. One of the things we're
really please about is the Energy Assistance Payment for any concession
card holder and that's people on the pension, sole parents, anybody on
Newstart. I think that's been a very important measure so I highly
applaud the government for doing that.
That is what the head of WACOSS said.
On top of that, that will mean that smaller businesses—because
these are the sorts of people who spend most if not all of their income—across
the community will be the beneficiaries of that. In recent months, we have
announced additional support for the not-for-profit sector—an
additional $60 million for wage pressures. We reversed $30 million of the
indexation policy that was put in by the last government. We provided $72 million
for homelessness services, including two common-ground facilities, and $150 million
for additional social housing across the community.
to lower income Western Australians through the energy assistance payment—that
is, 300 000 lower income Western Australians received support through that
program, which was far more than anyone
thought we would or that anyone even asked for. That was welcomed by the not- for-profit
sector.
Yesterday, Louise Giolitto, the head of the Western Australian
Council of Social Service, spoke on ABC regional radio. According to my notes,
she said —
I
think the freeze will support everybody across the sector. One of the things we're
really please about is the Energy Assistance Payment for any concession
card holder and that's people on the pension, sole parents, anybody on
Newstart. I think that's been a very important measure so I highly
applaud the government for doing that.
That is what the head of WACOSS said.
On top of that, that will mean that smaller businesses—because
these are the sorts of people who spend most if not all of their income—across
the community will be the beneficiaries of that. In recent months, we have
announced additional support for the not-for-profit sector—an
additional $60 million for wage pressures. We reversed $30 million of the
indexation policy that was put in by the last government. We provided $72 million
for homelessness services, including two common-ground facilities, and $150 million
for additional social housing across the community.
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