Neighbourhood Houses funding cause for uncertainty

As Tasmanians face growing cost-of-living pressure, Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz are causing uncertainty for Neighbourhood Houses rather than helping them through it.

While our Neighbourhood Houses face the expiry of a vital $50,000 annual funding boost and uncertainty surrounding the Community Connectors program, the Liberal Government has awarded KPMG a ‘needs analysis’ contract that is causing concern amongst communities like Chigwell.  

Neighbourhood Houses like Bucaan Community House are in desperate need of support to meet the rising cost-of-living in their communities. With no guarantee of the annual $50,000 funding boost, Community Connector funding nearly expended, and a ‘needs analysis’ that could mean more Eric Abetz cuts, there are genuine concerns for the future. 

The Government needs to be strengthening support, but instead Premier Rockliff and Eric Abetz are making sweeping cuts across the state budget and in that context, they are spending $171,500 on consultants to conduct a needs analysis.

Neighbourhood Houses are at the heart of communities across Tasmania, giving people a place to connect, access support, and find practical help when they need it. 

They know their communities, they know the people who need support, and they are often the ones filling the gaps when other services are stretched. 

When people are doing it tough, the last thing they need is their local community services being stripped back. 

Premier Rockliff must rule out any cuts to the funding that Neighbourhood Houses rely on to keep delivering for their communities.

After 13 years of Liberal waste, Premier Rockliff has put Eric Abetz in charge of cutting jobs and services to pay for it.