Aid body's funding
Re "No help for migrants" (Leader, February 10). Gymea Community Aid has been receiving grant funding for many years from the federal government to help migrants settle in our local community.
The government undertook an comprehensive competitive tender process last year for $800 million worth of community service grants in the country to support a broad range of vital frontline services including those from Gymea Community Aid.
This nationwide process was undertaken at arm's length from politicians and attracted unprecedented interest — 5500 applications — from service delivery organisations.
Although Gymea Community Aid was not successful in this process, I am hopeful that negotiations with funded settlement service providers will prove fruitful and that the successful applicants will be in place to deliver services in Sutherland Shire after they begin their contracts on March 1.
To ensure continuity of the services that have been provided, I have acted to extend bridging funding to Gymea Community Aid until the end of June to ensure a smooth handover, and that the people they were supporting can be referred appropriately. I am advised by my department that Gymea Community Aid has been told it is eligible for this bridging funding.
Although it is disappointing that Gymea Community Aid was unsuccessful in its submission, I wish to acknowledge and pay tribute to its staff and volunteers for the work they have done in our community.
Scott Morrison, Cook MP, Minister for Social Services
'Lack of vision'
The decision to cut funding to Gymea Community Aid and Information Service is yet another sad example of our politicians' appalling lack of vision for our country.
Do our elected representatives think of the consequences of their actions?
Do they even see, let alone understand, the results of their poorly considered decisions?
The ability to speak, read and write English is fundamental to integration into our society.
Removing access to this most basic necessity can only lead to feelings of isolation, marginalisation and frustration among our new arrivals.
Is this what we want in Australia?
Scott Morrison's tired old justification of the cut is nothing short of an insult — "improving service delivery".
Really? What service? You have just taken it away from Gymea.
Part of the government's budget-repair task? Try tax reform and better revenue generation rather than slashing public services.
Imagination, commitment to the country and vision for the future are lacking — sadly.
Rosemary Salvatore, Caringbah
