Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

The community sector always has a vital part to play when it comes to service delivery but it must always be built upon the backbone of the services that are provided by government. Those opposite are peddling the line that they can transfer government responsibilities to community organisations. What we have seen is that that simply cannot be done, because what happens when community groups have resources withdrawn from them by government is that the people of this country suffer. In New South Wales we have seen long-established programs being forced to close. This includes the Liverpool Women's Resource Centre. We see the Redfern financial counselling service and we see the Welfare Rights Centre; these are all organisations that provide vital services that are able to turn people's lives around. Their judgement and their compassion cannot be replaced. So I call upon the Premier of New South Wales to help those people— (Time expired)