❓ Dr. Pettitt questions the Minister regarding funding for Sudbury Community House's food distribution and the Empowering Communities program. The Minister acknowledges the issue, highlights existing cost-of-living relief measures, and directs food relief funding to larger organizations.
AnsweredQoN 781Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SUDBURY COMMUNITY HOUSE —
FUNDING
781. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the not-for-profit
Sudbury Community House, operating in Mirrabooka, which distributed 20 tonnes
of food to 2 500 children, schools and households last year, and to the
increased demand experienced by many grossly underfunded community centres in Western
Australia.
(1) Is the
minister aware that Sudbury Community House receives no direct funding for food
distribution?
(2) Will the minister provide
additional funding to Sudbury Community House for food relief?
(3) Will the minister increase funding in real terms
for the Empowering Communities program for neighbourhood and community
services, in recognition of the increased demand and the increased costs to
deliver services?
(4) If no to (2) and/or (3), why
not?
FUNDING
781. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the not-for-profit
Sudbury Community House, operating in Mirrabooka, which distributed 20 tonnes
of food to 2 500 children, schools and households last year, and to the
increased demand experienced by many grossly underfunded community centres in Western
Australia.
(1) Is the
minister aware that Sudbury Community House receives no direct funding for food
distribution?
(2) Will the minister provide
additional funding to Sudbury Community House for food relief?
(3) Will the minister increase funding in real terms
for the Empowering Communities program for neighbourhood and community
services, in recognition of the increased demand and the increased costs to
deliver services?
(4) If no to (2) and/or (3), why
not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Community Services.
(1)–(2) The
Department of Communities advises that the Empowering Communities program seeks
to empower communities to be connected and inclusive places where people feel
they belong, are valued and can contribute.
Although food distribution is not part of the program's service
deliverables, the state government has
recently announced that it will allocate $1.5 million from the 2024–25
state budget to provide food relief for
struggling families. Foodbank, OzHarvest and SecondBite will each receive a $500
000 donation from the state government to support their operations and
help WA families impacted by the rise in the cost of living.
(3)–(4) Empowering
Communities program service providers receive funding plus indexation to
deliver this program to the community. In addition, the state government is
providing $762 million in cost-of-living relief
in the state budget. These measures include the $400 household electricity
credit, free public transport initiatives, public transport fares capped
to two zones and the WA student assistance package.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Community Services.
(1)–(2) The
Department of Communities advises that the Empowering Communities program seeks
to empower communities to be connected and inclusive places where people feel
they belong, are valued and can contribute.
Although food distribution is not part of the program's service
deliverables, the state government has
recently announced that it will allocate $1.5 million from the 2024–25
state budget to provide food relief for
struggling families. Foodbank, OzHarvest and SecondBite will each receive a $500
000 donation from the state government to support their operations and
help WA families impacted by the rise in the cost of living.
(3)–(4) Empowering
Communities program service providers receive funding plus indexation to
deliver this program to the community. In addition, the state government is
providing $762 million in cost-of-living relief
in the state budget. These measures include the $400 household electricity
credit, free public transport initiatives, public transport fares capped
to two zones and the WA student assistance package.
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