Media Release – Community Services Funding Boost

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today supported the call by Tasmanian community services Network of Peaks for 9.5% indexation for funded services in 2023-24 and a commitment to an adequate ongoing indexation model to provide essential support to Tasmanians.

“I know first-hand from two decades working in the Tasmanian community services industry that indexation of funding has always fallen short of increasing costs, leaving services struggling to do more with less,” Ms Webb said.

“The Liberal Government has cut funding in real terms for years to this sector that Tasmanians increasingly depend on to provide support for the basics – housing, food, bills and health.

“It is not good enough for the Government to continue taking community services for granted, relying on the commitment of workers and organisations to go above and beyond to provide support.”

Ms Webb said in recent months the Government has gifted an international businesses a million dollars to keep a tourism offering open and sparked contentious community conversations about spending public money on a Macquarie Point stadium.

“It would be particularly galling to see the State Government ignore this reasonable call from an essential industry.”

Ms Webb said the community services industry is a major employer for Tasmania with a workforce that is largely female.

“This industry can’t afford to make political donations to build relationships or pay for expensive lunches to influence Government, yet it is essential for the economic success of our state.

“The industry at the coalface of our biggest challenges should not be operating hand-to-mouth, a smart government would invest in adequate funding to deliver innovative and cutting-edge solutions to those challenges.”

Ms Webb said the community services industry touches the lives of all Tasmanians at some point.

“We are supported by this industry from services to newborns and parents, youth engagement in education and training, through to family, housing and financial support, care at times of crisis and trauma, aged and disability support and end of life care.

“Put simply, this is an industry we cannot allow to fail – the Liberal Government cannot ignore this call to provide long-overdue adequate funding. 

“Time for the government to decide whether it will continue band-aiding our biggest challenges through underfunding the community services industry, or whether it will commit to a funding model that can deliver solutions and real change.”

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