❓ Mr. Krsticevic questions the Premier's lack of immediate funding for the not-for-profit sector to address the anticipated surge in demand for services due to the coronavirus. The Premier defends the government's recent investments in the sector and outlines future considerations.
AnsweredQoN 178Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR
178. Mr
A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
answer to Parliament yesterday when he clearly articulated that no additional
operational funding has been provided for
the not-for-profit sector other than the $60 million pre-coronavirus funding
for making up a small portion of wage
shortfalls in the sector. Why is the Premier not acting now and funding the
not-for-profit sector, given there will be an avalanche of desperate and
vulnerable people requiring housing, medical, mental health and other services
as a result of the coronavirus?
NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR
178. Mr
A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
answer to Parliament yesterday when he clearly articulated that no additional
operational funding has been provided for
the not-for-profit sector other than the $60 million pre-coronavirus funding
for making up a small portion of wage
shortfalls in the sector. Why is the Premier not acting now and funding the
not-for-profit sector, given there will be an avalanche of desperate and
vulnerable people requiring housing, medical, mental health and other services
as a result of the coronavirus?
AnswerView source ↗
Yesterday, I outlined to the house
a range of things that we have done for the not-for-profit sector in recent
months. I will take members through it again. We announced $60 million for
community service providers to meet higher wage costs; we provided $30 million
by reversing the last Liberal-National government's removal of
indexation—we put indexation back in to better provide for the
not-for-profit sector; we provided $1.9 million for organisations that operate 24/7 to support around-the-clock wage
costs; and we put in $72 million for homelessness services for common-ground
facilities and other Housing First initiatives; and $150 million for new
community social housing in Western Australia. That was in the last couple of
months. As I said yesterday, Louise Giolitto from the Western Australian
Council of Social Service overwhelmingly endorsed the package we announced on
Monday. She said —
I think that's been a very
important measure so I highly applaud the government for doing that.
We received those types of
endorsements. As I said in an earlier question, we will work through what else
we can do, in particular looking at measures around financial counselling to
assist people who may become unemployed or may require assistance. Obviously,
we have to make sure that we use the resources of the state wisely and achieve results. I do not want to do things that
do not achieve results. We are carefully examining what we can do to provide confidence in the community and ensure that people who are dramatically
affected by the current economic crisis receive the support they need.
a range of things that we have done for the not-for-profit sector in recent
months. I will take members through it again. We announced $60 million for
community service providers to meet higher wage costs; we provided $30 million
by reversing the last Liberal-National government's removal of
indexation—we put indexation back in to better provide for the
not-for-profit sector; we provided $1.9 million for organisations that operate 24/7 to support around-the-clock wage
costs; and we put in $72 million for homelessness services for common-ground
facilities and other Housing First initiatives; and $150 million for new
community social housing in Western Australia. That was in the last couple of
months. As I said yesterday, Louise Giolitto from the Western Australian
Council of Social Service overwhelmingly endorsed the package we announced on
Monday. She said —
I think that's been a very
important measure so I highly applaud the government for doing that.
We received those types of
endorsements. As I said in an earlier question, we will work through what else
we can do, in particular looking at measures around financial counselling to
assist people who may become unemployed or may require assistance. Obviously,
we have to make sure that we use the resources of the state wisely and achieve results. I do not want to do things that
do not achieve results. We are carefully examining what we can do to provide confidence in the community and ensure that people who are dramatically
affected by the current economic crisis receive the support they need.
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