Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre & Community Aid Service has fallen victim to the Morrison Government’s dysfunction, with the Centre facing another cut to their funding.

One of the Centre’s most successful initiatives is its Community Visitors programme, designed to foster greater social inclusion and integration with some of the most socially isolated in our community, including seniors and residents with limited mobility.

The centre currently receives $48,000 in Federal funds to run the Community Visitors programme. The Centre applied for Community Visitors Scheme funding totalling $70,000 over two and a half years.

The Centre was initially advised that its application was successful and that the Department of Social Services would be in contact to negotiate the final grant amount.

But the Centre was then informed it would only receive $7,000 per year. In real terms, this means Scott Morrison cut $41,000 from the Centre.

This cut means the Centre will be unable to continue to fund this important community service.

This follows the Liberals’ backflip giving the centre a short one year reprieve on its Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity: Emergency Relief funding that they cut recently.

Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre & Community Aid Service Inc is the only service provider of its kind in the Riverstone area.

The Morrison Government’s bungling of these funding arrangement places important local support services and initiatives at risk.

Federal Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland MP, is making representations to the Minister who oversees the funding, Minister for Health Greg Hunt MP, deeply frustrated with the Government’s bungling of these funding arrangements.

“This funding cut is reckless and cruel, particularly given this funding supports the most vulnerable in our community,” Federal Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland said.    

“It’s simply unacceptable that the Morrison Government continues to cut important funding to community organisations like Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre & Community Aid Service, especially right before Christmas.

“The Liberals must end their agenda of cuts which are hurting people in our community and reverse this cruel cut immediately.  

“Our hardworking local community groups deserve certainly from the government so they can focus on their important work,” Ms Rowland said.