Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

What we have sought to do with program grants is to reduce the number of areas so that a smaller number of areas include all the various program grants in the future. In relation to settlement services, they will continue. Indeed, the funding for future years will be greater than it has been for this year, which you will see if you look again at page 98 of the portfolio budget statement which you referred to. Settlement services are safe as part of the change bringing settlement services and multicultural matters from the immigration department into the Department of Social Services. This is the new structure, if I can be permitted for a moment to show this to the honourable member, and we can provide a copy of it if the honourable member does not have it. It shows quite clearly that settlement services is part of this new structure. What we are trying to do is to reduce red tape to cut down and make more efficient the way in which programs are operating.

My recollection is that the grants round under DSS will open on 19 June this year, so there will be the opportunity for organisations to apply for grants under that. Part of what we are trying to do, not immediately in every area but over time, is to have grants that go for a longer time in terms of years so there is a great deal more certainty for the organisations and the staff employed by those organisations in the future.

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