UPDATE: The federal government has now cut the Building Multicultural Communities Program. Many community organisations have received a letter from the Department of Social Services advising that it was withdrawing its offer of funding. View the letter here.
Federal government funding for hundreds of projects aimed at supporting multiculturalism is in jeopardy, according to Opposition MPs.
Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism Michelle Rowland said more than 400 not-for-profit and community groups across Australia were being denied up to $14.2 million in funding promised under the Building Multicultural Communities Program.
Ms Rowland said the grants were awarded under proper procedures and were fully funded in the then-Gillard Government's 2013-14 Budget, announced in May.
She said successful applicants were notified and “rightly expect to receive this funding” but were now extremely concerned as it appeared increasingly likely the grants would be cut.
“Community organisations around Australia are now being told by Departmental officials that their funding is in limbo, despite the fact that Minister Scott Morrison tabled the approved grants in Parliament earlier this month,” Ms Rowland said.
“This is funding that will empower communities to embrace the benefits of multiculturalism and maintain cohesive and socially inclusive neighbourhoods.”
Ms Rowland said community groups were awarded grants of up to $150,000. The Ethnic Communities Council (ECC) of Newcastle and the Hunter Region, for example, had been promised that amount to build Australia’s first multicultural Men’s Shed.
Men’s Sheds provide an environment where men are able to work on meaningful projects at their own pace in the company of other men in order to improve their health and wellbeing and promote community inclusion and assistance.
ECC Newcastle executive officer John Tucker said the project would target some 100 multicultural groups including traditional migrant communities from Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Ukraine and Poland, as well as new and emerging refugee communities.
Mr Tucker said he had been told all grants under the program were “on hold and subject to review and may not be honoured”.
He said the group had been planning the shed for more than 12 months and had invested about $30,000 in preliminary plans and development approvals through the local council.
“It would be devastating (if we lost the funding) as we already have in excess of 80 men registered to take part in the programs,” Mr Tucker said.
“The State Government has already given us funds for the project and the federal funding, offered and accepted following an exhaustive grant tendering process through the Multicultural Communities portfolio well before the election, will put a stop on the project until the funding is forthcoming.
“The government has not answered any calls for help or clarification (addressed) to the Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Minister for Social Services.
“The whole focus on multiculturalism and citizenship has been downgraded by the new government as it has dismantled the former multicultural ministry and lumped it in with the mega social services department.”
Labor Member for Parramatta Julie Owens also raised the issue in Parliament this week.
“Earlier this year, I was pleased to announce funding to 12 great local organisations under the Building Multicultural Communities Program,” she said.
“There were many happy people in my electorate when those grants were announced.
“I call on the Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews, to honour these funding commitments, properly processed in the budget and announced in the proper way, and give these communities the certainty that they deserve.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services said “the government is currently assessing all grant spending for consistency with Government priorities and commitments, and will notify grant recipients once completed.”
