❓ Mr Watson questions the Minister for Health about the short-term funding offered to the Albany Men's Resource Centre, highlighting the need for longer-term commitments to secure partnerships and projects. The Minister acknowledges the centre's importance but cites budget constraints and the expectation of self-sufficiency.
AnsweredQoN 291Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE, ALBANY
I refer to the recent offer of 12 months’ funding for the Men’s Resource Centre in Albany, and I appreciate the input the minister has contributed to the centre. (1) Why did the minister offer funding for only 12 months when he is aware that the Men’s Resource Centre needs to commit to three years for memorandums of understanding with partner organisations such as the Great Southern GP Network, and that it needs to establish a two-year agreement with Lotterywest to develop a men’s health prevention project? (2) Will the minister reconsider a three-year extension of funding, or accept that without it the centre will face closure? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the recent offer of 12 months’ funding for the Men’s Resource Centre in Albany, and I appreciate the input the minister has contributed to the centre. (1) Why did the minister offer funding for only 12 months when he is aware that the Men’s Resource Centre needs to commit to three years for memorandums of understanding with partner organisations such as the Great Southern GP Network, and that it needs to establish a two-year agreement with Lotterywest to develop a men’s health prevention project? (2) Will the minister reconsider a three-year extension of funding, or accept that without it the centre will face closure? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
(1) Why did the minister offer funding for only 12 months when he is aware that the Men’s Resource Centre needs to commit to three years for memorandums of understanding with partner organisations such as the Great Southern GP Network, and that it needs to establish a two-year agreement with Lotterywest to develop a men’s health prevention project? (2) Will the minister reconsider a three-year extension of funding, or accept that without it the centre will face closure? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
(2) Will the minister reconsider a three-year extension of funding, or accept that without it the centre will face closure? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
(1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
(1) Why did the minister offer funding for only 12 months when he is aware that the Men’s Resource Centre needs to commit to three years for memorandums of understanding with partner organisations such as the Great Southern GP Network, and that it needs to establish a two-year agreement with Lotterywest to develop a men’s health prevention project? (2) Will the minister reconsider a three-year extension of funding, or accept that without it the centre will face closure? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
(2) Will the minister reconsider a three-year extension of funding, or accept that without it the centre will face closure? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
I thank the member for the question—I would like to call him Dorothy for asking me the question, because it gives me a chance to talk about this very serious issue. Interestingly, I have just made a comment to the Premier about this very subject—the member must be clairvoyant! (1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
(1)-(2) The problem we have with the Men’s Resource Centre is that it was funded for three years, and the funding is due to run out in the middle of next year. It was apparently told by the Department of Health under the previous government that that was it; it was to be funded for three years, and during that time it would be expected to develop its own source of funding. We are now approaching the end of the three-year period, and there is no money in the budget for it beyond June. The response I got from a request for extra funding for the Men’s Resource Centre was that it was funded for three years, the centre was told to develop its own sources of funding and that is it. Of course, I was extremely concerned about that, because I am aware of the great service that the Men’s Resource Centre provides. I told the health department that that was unsatisfactory, and that I wanted the department to add an extra year of funding in the budget to keep it going for at least another year, and that during that time the centre should try to develop alternative sources of funding. The member for Albany is as aware as any other member of the financial situation we are in—the lack of funds and the difficulties the government is having in meeting demands. I am telling people virtually every day that we do not have additional funds for the very genuine requests for funding I receive at my office. It is extremely difficult. I have committed to a year’s additional funding. In response to the member’s comments, I have asked the department to show me proof that it told the centre that it was to develop its own sources of funding over the three-year period, and I am yet to get a response. I will ensure that the department comes back to me with that proof, and that it will not just tell me that the centre was told. If that turns out to be the case, I will look at the situation again.
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