Labor’s claims, coupled with two unsuccessful service providers being public about their disappointment in missing out on a local tender, would have the community think that services are being slashed when this isn’t the case. 

Let me be crystal clear – the refuges at Bega and Moruya for women and children will remain open. How dare a Labor staffer as a candidate for the next election make claims they are closing down because they are desperate for a vote, and how dare Labor speak out against successful faith-based organisations delivering services. 

It is a fact that under the last Labor Government the homelessness rate increased in five years by 20 per cent and that currently there are too many people accessing support at the point of crisis. 

As the NSW Treasurer I signed off with the Minister for Family and Community Services a $515 million package for NGOs to tackle this problem. The current system has been operating for 30 years without major reform and unapologetically the NSW Government has taken action. 

Resources will be delivered where they are needed most based on evidence not history.

Providers in our region are as follows - $674,500 has been awarded to Mission Australia for Bega Valley Homelessness Support Service, Campbell Page Limited has been awarded $372,000 for Eurobodalla Youth Homelessness Support Service in the Eurobodalla region, Anglicare Regional Alliance has been awarded $346,000 for the Eurobodalla Home-

lessness Support Service, South East Women and Children’s Services Incorporated has been awarded $436,000 for Eurobodalla Domestic and Family Violence Home-

lessness Support Services and $178,000 for a Bega Valley Youth Homeless Support Service. 

I am sorry that one local service provider in Batemans Bay missed out on the recent funding round but it is entirely inappropriate that I should step in and somehow influence a live tender process. I am now going to seek a meeting with the Minister to discuss future options for them.

In addition to the local funding, the NSW Government will introduce a number of complementary initiatives including $31.2 million to extend and increase the Start Safely program that provides stable, private rental housing for 1300 women and children escaping domestic violence; a new $27 million program to provide up to 4000 unaccompanied homeless children and young people under 16 years with help to reconnect with family, or transition to independence through education, training and employment; and a new $4.5 million homelessness hotline and referral service that will act as a single state-wide phone line for people who require homelessness services.

Andrew Constance

Member for Bega