Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fielding for his question. The government is committed to the Family Relationship Services Program and to funding services to assist Australian families to find alternative and meaningful ways to resolve their disputes. I am sure Senator Fielding would appreciate it if we put these claims into perspective. From 2010 to 2011, total funding for the Family Relationship Services Program is $269 million. This includes an annual investment of $90 million per annum for mediation services which support separating families in resolving issues involving children.

This government remains committed to this important service. It does deliver in this area. The government is proposing $48.4 million in savings over four years for the Family Relationship Services Program, and the majority of these savings have been found by reducing internal government spending to ensure efficiencies in the overall program. Looking at how this will be done, there are reductions of $6.4 million for training and $6.5 million for research and evaluation. But, as I indicated right at the outset, the size of the program—$269 million—shows that the government remains strongly committed to ensuring that the Family Relationship Services Program can get on with the job of resolving disputes and issues involving children and ensuring that mediation and support is there. Overall, the savings measures represent about four per cent of the overall program, with minimal impact on services. The proposed savings of $9 million over three years— (Time expired)