FIRST NATIONS HOMELESSNESS PROJECT
349. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I thank the minister for her answer
to my question without notice 259 on 15 June regarding commonwealth funding for
the First Nations Homelessness Project. Further to her answer, I ask —
(1) Was the minister aware that this
project would be decentralised to the state?
(2) Has
equivalent funding been offered to the service providers that deliver the
existing Thrive tenancy support program to close the gap?
Hon
SAMANTHA ROWE replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of the question and provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Community Services.
(1)–(2) Commonwealth
funding decisions are a matter for the federal government. Matters regarding
tenancy support programs fall under the housing portfolio. The Minister for
Housing has advised that the Department of Communities has a $58 million budget
for tenancy support services over five years, which has been fully allocated
through a transparent and competitive tender process, in line with appropriate
government procurement practices. First Nations Homelessness Project did not
submit a tender proposal.
Thrive
service providers work across the state and promote a culturally safe and
responsive program that works with a range of organisations that have an
established track record of meeting the needs of Aboriginal families.