Post by Banker on May 3, 2013 16:26:29 GMT 7
NSW legal centre cuts 'silence' vulnerable
THE O'Farrell Government has been accused of silencing single mums and other vulnerable groups by cutting almost half the entire budget of a welfare legal centre.
Around 150 people gathered in Sydney's CBD to protest $400,000 worth of cuts to the Welfare Rights Centre in Surry Hills, which on Friday celebrated 30 years.
The cuts to the centre, which also assists the unemployed and pensioners, represent 40 per cent of its budget.
Addressing the crowd, the centre's chairman Terry Mason called cuts "disgusting".
"It's a significant cut to a body that has produced so much good," Mr Mason told the rally.
Kristie Rue, from the Single Parents' Action Group, said many sole parents in legal strife would have no other options if the cuts went ahead.
"No single parent currently on an income support from Centrelink could afford legal advice specifically catered to Centrelink issues," she said.
"Withdrawal of funding is effectively saying we want to silence you, we don't want you to stand up for your own rights."
The funding cut was "stupid and shortsighted" deputy opposition leader Linda Burney told the rally .
"They will end up staying in their cars, they will end up losing the accommodation that they've got," Ms Burney said.
The Welfare Rights Centre each year provides 5000 legal advices and handles ten per cent of community legal cases in NSW.
Comment was being sought from the government.
A spokesman for Community Services Minister Pru Goward said the Welfare Rights Centre did not "align with Community Services' core responsibility to protect children and young people".
"Community Services funding needs to focus on supporting children and young people at risk of significant harm or kids in foster care," he said in a statement.
He said social security was a federal government responsibility.
www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/nsw-legal-centre-cuts-silence-vulnerable/story-fnhrvfuw-1226634776536
THE O'Farrell Government has been accused of silencing single mums and other vulnerable groups by cutting almost half the entire budget of a welfare legal centre.
Around 150 people gathered in Sydney's CBD to protest $400,000 worth of cuts to the Welfare Rights Centre in Surry Hills, which on Friday celebrated 30 years.
The cuts to the centre, which also assists the unemployed and pensioners, represent 40 per cent of its budget.
Addressing the crowd, the centre's chairman Terry Mason called cuts "disgusting".
"It's a significant cut to a body that has produced so much good," Mr Mason told the rally.
Kristie Rue, from the Single Parents' Action Group, said many sole parents in legal strife would have no other options if the cuts went ahead.
"No single parent currently on an income support from Centrelink could afford legal advice specifically catered to Centrelink issues," she said.
"Withdrawal of funding is effectively saying we want to silence you, we don't want you to stand up for your own rights."
The funding cut was "stupid and shortsighted" deputy opposition leader Linda Burney told the rally .
"They will end up staying in their cars, they will end up losing the accommodation that they've got," Ms Burney said.
The Welfare Rights Centre each year provides 5000 legal advices and handles ten per cent of community legal cases in NSW.
Comment was being sought from the government.
A spokesman for Community Services Minister Pru Goward said the Welfare Rights Centre did not "align with Community Services' core responsibility to protect children and young people".
"Community Services funding needs to focus on supporting children and young people at risk of significant harm or kids in foster care," he said in a statement.
He said social security was a federal government responsibility.
www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/nsw-legal-centre-cuts-silence-vulnerable/story-fnhrvfuw-1226634776536
