5 years ago
FLETCHER BACKFLIPS ON FINANCIAL COUNSELLING
SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER
The Government has backflipped on yet another of its decisions in the rollout of Financial Capability and Wellbeing grants.
Reports yesterday that Minister Fletcher has further extended existing Financial Counselling grants from three to twelve months to organisations who recently had their funding cut add to a fortnight of chaos.
In an incredible display – the Minister has backflipped on his own backflip after realising that his initial extension was rebuked by the sector.
This is the fifth backflip on grant announcements in a fortnight.
The funding rollout for Financial Capability and Wellbeing grants has been a disaster of the Governments own making.
The Government has thrown front line services into chaos with only weeks to go before Christmas. This saga has caused immense stress to front line staff and was entirely avoidable.
While extras resources are always welcome, a chaotic allocation of funds to save the Ministers’ own political skin is no substitute for careful planning in response to identified community need.
The Government has an obligation to deliver to those most vulnerable – this chaos is further proof that the Liberals are not up to the task.
TIMELINE OF THE MINISTERS’ BACKFLIPS
Reports yesterday that Minister Fletcher has further extended existing Financial Counselling grants from three to twelve months to organisations who recently had their funding cut add to a fortnight of chaos.
In an incredible display – the Minister has backflipped on his own backflip after realising that his initial extension was rebuked by the sector.
This is the fifth backflip on grant announcements in a fortnight.
The funding rollout for Financial Capability and Wellbeing grants has been a disaster of the Governments own making.
The Government has thrown front line services into chaos with only weeks to go before Christmas. This saga has caused immense stress to front line staff and was entirely avoidable.
While extras resources are always welcome, a chaotic allocation of funds to save the Ministers’ own political skin is no substitute for careful planning in response to identified community need.
The Government has an obligation to deliver to those most vulnerable – this chaos is further proof that the Liberals are not up to the task.
TIMELINE OF THE MINISTERS’ BACKFLIPS
- 12th November: The Government back flipped on their cruel cuts to Foodbank.
- 14th November: The Government back flipped on their decision to cut funding to organisations in NSW and Victoria who run the National Debt helpline by extending their funding arrangements for 12 months.
- 17th November: The Minister back flipped on the roll out of their emergency relief grants across the country by extending grants arrangements to organisations that were recently notified of a cut to funding.
- 18th November: It was reported that there has been a further backflip to financial counselling grants by extending arrangements by three months to organisations that had recently had their funding cut.
- Yesterday, it was reported that the Minister would extend arrangements to organisations who recently had their funding cut for financial counselling grants from three to twelve months.
Labor is calling on the Minister to come clean on whether there are more problems with the rollout of these grants.
The chaos surrounding social services needs to stop.
The chaos surrounding social services needs to stop.