Local community speaks out against LNP cuts
- jimchalmers
- Apr 11, 2014
- 2 min read
First published in Logan Reporter on 11 April, 2014.
On Monday night, I joined Michelle Rowland, the federal Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, to host a multicultural roundtable at Rodelu Woodridge Sports and Social Club.
Rodelu is one of several organisations in our area which has had its funding slashed by the Coalition Government since September last year. The club is missing out on $44,981 which would have helped install night playing lights and new playground equipment.
The multicultural roundtable was an opportunity for Rodelu and a number of other affected community groups to express their concerns about this government’s twisted priorities.
The Abbott Government is willing to pay wealthy couples $75,000 to have a baby and $200 to receive marriage counselling, but won’t honour grants of as little as a few thousand dollars for our hardworking local community groups.
Participants at the roundtable also expressed their fears about the proposed repeal of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act which will make it possible to humiliate or intimidate someone as a result of their race or ethnicity, as long as there is no incitement to violence.
With the budget due in about a month’s time, my concern is that recent funding cuts to our multicultural community groups could be a sign of things to come.
Leaked policies from the Government’s Commission of Audit have included cuts to the aged pension and the introduction of a GP co-payment, which would undermine our Medicare system.
While budget repair is important, we must ensure that cuts do not hurt our hardworking community groups or impact disproportionately on the most disadvantaged in our area.
As your federal representative, I will continue to stand up for local families and community groups to ensure our area gets the funding it deserves.
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