Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week I received over 100 letters from clients of the Bendigo family and financial counselling services asking for support to retain their funding. The Bendigo family and financial counselling services fear that they could lose their federal government funding in tonight's budget. They are concerned that their program will be axed, like many other vital programs in the Abbott government's first budget. This amazing grassroots organisation provides financial assistance to thousands of people in my electorate and has done so since 2006. General Manager Jenny said that the proposed cuts would mean the future of the organisation was uncertain. They first got wind of the cuts when the government released its Commission of Audit, which recommended 100 per cent of funding to financial counselling services across the country be cut.

These programs help families in need. They provide counselling, emergency relief, small loans and financial management training to those who are struggling because of loss of hours at work, sickness or unmanageable debt. These are people who have fallen on hardened times who need a small helping hand up. These are people who need our help and should not have to face such savage cuts. I call on the government to reverse the cuts and not proceed with them tonight.

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