Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I too want to talk about cuts to community organisations. It is good to see the member for Lyons in the chamber because one of the community organisations that is very concerned about the cuts that they have had from the Department of Social Security's community grants program. Some $270 million was slashed. One of those community organisations that is concerned is the Dunalley Tasman Neighbourhood House.

Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They have got an extension.

Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They have got an extension, yes, but they have been cut. They have been told $140,000 a year. They have had an extension to 30 June but they have been cut. This area was ravaged by bushfire's just two years ago. They are delivering services like post-fire trauma courses at this neighbourhood house. They do great work and they should not have been cut from the funding. And they should not have been told, with hardly any notice ,that they were getting this cut because of the great work that they do. All of the staff, the volunteers and all of the community members rely on these services at this Neighbourhood House. The great services that they provide include: post-fire trauma courses; facilitated playgroups; family support programs including healthy relationships, parenting and domestic violence services; boat building at the primary school; and autism and special needs courses. A whole range of courses at that Neighbourhood House will be under threat.

Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You should be standing up for your constituents, Julie; let me worry about mine. I am doing a good job.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lyons, you do not have the call.