Community funding cuts in firing line

A petition against the O’Farrell Government’s proposed funding cuts for community organisations, including key GLBTI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex) groups, is gathering momentum with almost 2,000 people registering their opposition.

The Change.org petition, ‘NSW Premier: Don’t cut community organisations’ had attracted 1,973 signatories at press time, with respondents fighting to save government funding for organisations such the NSW Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service (GLCS) and GLBTI youth support service, Twenty10.

The petition is in response to an internal review by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, first reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, outlining potential departmental cost-cutting measures.

The document, titled FACS Community Services Division: Further saving strategies, recommended reduced funding to at least seven organisations, with other services at risk including the Redfern Legal Centre’s financial counselling service, the Welfare Rights Centre and Lifeline Sydney, and Sutherland.

Woolloomooloo resident Megan Clement-Couzner said she initiated the petition after learning of the way the GLCS had helped a lesbian friend.

“I recently had a young queer friend from Western Sydney approach me, asking for help to deal with issues of homophobia and severe depression,” she said. “I knew she was at risk of self harm.

“Having community services in NSW meant I could help her access free counselling and a support group. She would never have been able to afford these services otherwise.

“Without organisations like the [GLCS], I wouldn’t have known how to help her.”

Newly elected Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich called on affected parties to contact his office so he could lobby other parliamentarians on their behalf.

“I intend to mount a strident defence against these funding cuts in Parliament and ensure other parliamentarians know how important these services are,” he said. “I want to hear from people who have been helped by organisations such as [the GLCS] and Twenty10, so I can share their stories in Parliament and fend off these funding cuts.”

Mr Greenwich said he would have his electoral office up and running within the coming days, and that in the meantime people could access contact information on his website, www.alexgreenwich.com

Some organisations threatened by the funding cuts have been in operation for several decades, with the GLCS in operation since 1970 and the Lifeline telephone counselling service operating for almost 50 years.

A spokesperson for NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell did not reply by press time.