Scott Morrison - new Social Services Minister

[mantra]

Morrison's Xmas gift to the impoverished underbelly of Australia will disturb a few people.

He's been in the job a couple of days and he's already started vacuuming up the Coalition's version of human debris. Funding is being cut or withheld to all the advocacy groups who help the homeless.

No doubt the homeless will be treated as harshly as the asylum seekers, although Morrison can't send them home because they have no home. Will he provide detention centres so they can at least get a bed and a decent meal every day? Highly unlikely.

As Scott Morrison prepared to step in as Social Services Minister, his new department was contacting housing advocacy groups and other community services providers on Monday to inform them their funding had been cut and contracts with the Commonwealth would be discontinued.

Social Services posted letters responding to requests for grants from the community sector for ongoing and new funding streams after a process first announced in March.

The government has previously warned it could satisfy just $800 million of the $3.9 billion in grants requested by the sector.

Fairfax Media has learned that all funding to Financial Counselling Australia has been cut, while a number of other community services groups providing emergency accommodation relief lose their funding.

Highlands Community Centres in the NSW southern highlands, which has 450 families on its books and has been serving people in distress for 20 years will no longer receive any federal funding and does not know how it can continue to provide the same service.

National Shelter, a peak advocacy group whose mission is to create a "more just housing system, particularly for low-income Australian households" was informed by the Department of Social Services on Monday that it would lose its funding and its three-year contract torn up a year early.

The Commonwealth will only continue to fund agreements that it has a legislated duty to fund, such as the National Affordable Housing Agreement with the states under the Council of Australian Governments process.

National Shelter executive officer Adrian Pisarski said it was a cruel blow coming three days before Christmas.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/ ... 2cf67.html

[IQS.RLOW]

I hope Morrison makes you piss your pants.

Just imagine when he's Prime Minister.

[Rorschach]

I heard what Morrison said yesterday, it was all very measured and good.
The only problem may be achieving it.
I hope he is advised properly and faces the reality of the real issues, Andrews did not.
I would prefer he stayed in Immigration till it was all fixed I don't trust Dutton to do as good a job.
I don't like the idea of Andrews in defence either.
And Frydenberg is an ideological zealot... apparently destined for the PM job. Me no like.

[Rorschach]

Apparently the decision you are blaming Morrison for was an Andrews decision mantra and it states that in the article... tsk tsk tsk, such dishonesty.

The Commonwealth will only continue to fund agreements that it has a legislated duty to fund, such as the National Affordable Housing Agreement with the states under the Council of Australian Governments process.

National Shelter executive officer Adrian Pisarski said it was a cruel blow coming three days before Christmas.

Previously the sector had received about $5 million a year to advocate for low-income households, social housing tenants and the homeless in the notoriously constrained and expensive Australian market.

"We have to consider this a Kevin Andrews decision," he said.

[mantra]

"We have to consider this a Kevin Andrews decision," he said.

The way we had to consider the boats stopping was a Kevin Rudd decision too. It doesn't matter - Morrison's "new" department released the guillotine - so he's responsible. He'll get a pat on the back for this.

The only problem may be achieving it.
I hope he is advised properly and faces the reality of the real issues, Andrews did not.

I think he's going to have a lot of trouble achieving this. What is he going to do for the homeless aside from make their lives more miserable?

ps- love that new avatar Mantra

It's not my first choice Solonoid, but it might deter a thief - or maybe not.

[5.56 NATO]

Why the poofters on the avatar..another cheap way of offending decent people

[mantra]

Why the poofters on the avatar..another cheap way of offending decent people

I thought it would turn you on.

[Rorschach]

"We have to consider this a Kevin Andrews decision," he said.

The way we had to consider the boats stopping was a Kevin Rudd decision too. It doesn't matter - Morrison's "new" department released the guillotine - so he's responsible. He'll get a pat on the back for this.

What are you on about??? Rudd did nothing to stop the boats... both he and Gillard only created a worsening of a situation which for all intents and purposes was fixed when they first came to government.

As for your avatar... personally I find it revolting.

[mantra]

What are you on about??? Rudd did nothing to stop the boats... both he and Gillard only created a worsening of a situation which for all intents and purposes was fixed when they first came to government.

Rudd initiated some tough new policies to stop the boats in his last few months as leader. Morrison enforced and added to them when the government changed. The same could be said for Andrews initiating policies to starve the homeless, but Morrison the enforcer will ensure that these policies are carried out thoroughly and no doubt added to.

As for your avatar... personally I find it revolting.

I didn't think you were homophobic.

[Neferti]

Mantra, are you coming OUT? I always thought you were a female.

Ah well. Merry Xmas.