A Rebecca White Labor Government will provide more funding to the community services sector to help them help Tasmanians with the cost-of-living crisis.
After 10 years of a Liberal Government, Tasmanians are doing it tougher than anywhere else in Australia, with more and more people relying on community services at a time when the cost of providing those services has also increased.
A Labor Government will provide Community Sector Organisations an increased indexation rate of four per cent for our first year in office while we work with the sector to develop a framework for fairer funding before the next budget – which the Liberals have promised but not delivered.
This is more than the 3.5 per cent promised by the Liberals, and Labor is committed to giving these organisations fairer and more sustainable funding models to help Tasmanians in need.
A Labor Government will also continue the cost-of-living boost to operational funding for Neighbourhood Houses for another year and provide $6 million over two years to fund a dedicated Community Connector three days a week at each Neighbourhood House, along with $6 million over three years for much-needed upgrades.
This is in addition to Labor’s other commitments to help the community sector including:
- Increased funding to NILS of $2.4 million for an additional 2000 loans a year for Tasmanians doing it tough
- $2 million funding boost to extend the Energy Saver Loan Scheme for four more years
- $1 million for Emergency Food Relief and towards the transition from relief to resilience through Loaves and Fishes
- A strong commitment to work with the Food Security Coalition on a long-term strategy and action plan to transition from food relief to food resilience
- Developing Tasmania’s first Volunteering Strategy, with Volunteering Tasmania and other stakeholders, recognising the importance of volunteers to our society and economy.
After 10 years of the Liberals, it’s time for a better future under Labor.
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Minister for Community Services and Development