Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison this week announced all Coalition state/territory governments are signing up to the 2015-17 National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) and called for Labor governments to follow their lead so that millions of dollars in funding can be provided for critical homelessness services nationwide.
“Western Australia and the Northern Territory were the first to sign, after agreeing to match their share of the $230 million NPAH funding offered by the Abbott Government in March,” Minister Morrison said.
“New South Wales signed the agreement last Friday while Tasmania has indicated its willingness to sign, ensuring continuity of homelessness services that protect vulnerable Australians.
“I encourage the Labor states and the ACT to join their Coalition colleagues, sign the agreement and ensure this new homelessness assistance for their communities is not delayed.
“After having run a vocal media campaign against the Abbott Government calling for a renewal of the homelessness funding that was cut by Labor, I am surprised that the Victorian Labor Government has so far failed to sign up, particularly as the decision to renew the funding was made in March.
“The value of the funding for Victoria is $45.58 million over two years.
“The only new conditions we have placed on the funding is that it must give priority to homelessness programmes focused on family domestic violence and youth homelessness and that there be transparency about where the funds are spent.
“The Abbott Government understands the importance of these services and is proud to be restoring the $230 million funding the former Federal Labor government cut.
“The agreement provides two years of federal funding for frontline homeless services across Australia, contingent upon matching funding from each state and territory government and agreed project plans for the delivery of services.
“Longer-term funding arrangements and the respective roles of the Commonwealth and state and territory governments in housing assistance and homelessness services will be considered in the context of the Government’s White Paper on reform of the Federation,” Minister Morrison said.
Read More on the NPAH agreement.