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Thursday, April 15, 2010
Members Statements
Last year the state government's Department of
Human Services (DHS) invested $270 million in the eastern region of Melbourne.
The funding went to community-based health services, housing, disability
services and child protection but excluded acute health services. Important
non-government organisations such as Anglicare, Scope and Connections, regional
health and community services such as EACH, Eastern Domestic Violence Service
and Eastern Health, and local councils are all funded. However, in analysing the
numbers it is clear that funding in Manningham lags significantly behind other
municipalities.
Documents released to me under freedom of information show that of the funding
given to the eastern region by DHS in the last financial year only 1.4 per cent
found its way to services based in Manningham; that is $3.7 million in funding
for Manningham organisations, families and individuals. This starkly compares to
$66 million for Monash and a whopping $109 million for neighbouring Whitehorse.
Community services staff tell me that funding from state government sources is
often not directed to the area simply because the need is not seen to be great.
However, Doncaster residents face the same challenges and issues that affect
many others across Victoria.
Many services are provided on a regional basis and located in neighbouring
suburbs, but that means Manningham residents have to travel away from the area
to obtain assistance. This is complicated by our limited public transport
services.
Manningham residents miss out on many needed local services -- for example, we
have no men's change behavioural program and Doncare had to struggle to obtain
private funding for Chinese-specific playgroups. I call on the state government
to address this unfair bias and ensure a fair go for Manningham residents.
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