27 August 2009
$11 MILLION FOR CHARITIES: AN INSULT
The Government’s announcement today that they are giving $11 million to the charitable and voluntary sector for assistance during the economic downturn is an insult, said Senator Mitch Fifield, the Coalition’s spokesman for the Voluntary Sector.
The burden on this sector always increases during downturns when demand for services increases and donations become harder to secure.
The Government can find $14 billion for Julia Gillard memorial school halls, but only $11 million for the charitable sector.
The Government’s priorities are completely skewed, determined by politics rather than community need. Just this morning in Adelaide I was meeting with a voluntary organisation that could have done with assistance upgrading their infrastructure.
The Government’s stimulus package is too large and poorly targeted. A fraction of the money already committed could have been better directed to those organisations that make every dollar count.
A paltry $11 million for charities, but a ridiculous $14 billion for school halls – talk about “swallowing a camel and straining at the gnat”*.
*Matthew 23:24