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Coalition cuts refugee council funding despite budget promise Coalition cuts refugee council funding despite budget promise
(3 months later)
The federal government has slashed funding for the Refugee Council of Australia by more than half a million dollars over the next four years despite approving the original sum in the 2014 budget. The federal government has slashed funding for the Refugee Council of Australia by more than half a million dollars over the next four years despite approving the original sum in the 2014 budget.
The council is facing a $140,000-a-year shortfall after the immigration department said it would no longer be eligible for the funding allocated in the 2014 budget.The council is facing a $140,000-a-year shortfall after the immigration department said it would no longer be eligible for the funding allocated in the 2014 budget.
Paul Power, the chief executive of the council, said he received a phone call from the immigration department this week about the cut. He said an officer from the department told him the decision to strip the organisation of funding was made by the immigration minister, Scott Morrison.Paul Power, the chief executive of the council, said he received a phone call from the immigration department this week about the cut. He said an officer from the department told him the decision to strip the organisation of funding was made by the immigration minister, Scott Morrison.
“We are surprised that funding that was allocated in the budget and allowed for in the government’s forward estimates to 2018 would be removed without explanation,” Power said.“We are surprised that funding that was allocated in the budget and allowed for in the government’s forward estimates to 2018 would be removed without explanation,” Power said.
“This decision is petty and vindictive and is symbolic of the minister’s very poor relationship with the non-government sector. While we and other agencies maintain constructive dialogue with other members of the government, it is clear that Mr Morrison has little interest in the ideas and concerns of non-government agencies which support refugees and asylum seekers.”“This decision is petty and vindictive and is symbolic of the minister’s very poor relationship with the non-government sector. While we and other agencies maintain constructive dialogue with other members of the government, it is clear that Mr Morrison has little interest in the ideas and concerns of non-government agencies which support refugees and asylum seekers.”
The peak refugee group is a widely respected organisation that represents a broad range of groups involved in asylum seeker legal aid, community support, advocacy and counselling services.The peak refugee group is a widely respected organisation that represents a broad range of groups involved in asylum seeker legal aid, community support, advocacy and counselling services.
Power said communication between its member organisations and the current government had never been poorer, and said the group would be seeking to raise funds from its supporters.Power said communication between its member organisations and the current government had never been poorer, and said the group would be seeking to raise funds from its supporters.
“The withdrawal of our core funding represents a tiny cost saving for the government – less than half of the annual salary of a minister – but is close to one quarter of our organisational budget,” he said.“The withdrawal of our core funding represents a tiny cost saving for the government – less than half of the annual salary of a minister – but is close to one quarter of our organisational budget,” he said.
A spokesman for Morrison said the decision was made “in light of the tight fiscal environment and budgetary constraints as a result of Labor's failed economic management that are having an impact on all government expenditure.''A spokesman for Morrison said the decision was made “in light of the tight fiscal environment and budgetary constraints as a result of Labor's failed economic management that are having an impact on all government expenditure.''