A re-elected majority Liberal Government's 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's future will provide a massive funding boost to help ensure a well-resourced community services industry that is able to meet the level of need in local communities.
"We will deliver guaranteed funding indexation at an unprecedented level that's on par with our other essential front line workers who do incredible work helping Tasmanians every day," Premier Rockliff said.
"The community services industry undertakes vital work in our state, delivering essential services either instead of, or on behalf of, the Tasmanian Government.
"Just like the rest of us, they are not immune to rising costs and high inflation, particularly over recent years, which eats away at their capacity to deliver the essential work they do.
"That's why I can confirm that a re-elected majority Liberal Government will increase the indexation applied to the funding to this sector to 12.5 per cent over four years.
"This indexation increase will be a real game changer for the sector."
Minister for Community Services and Development, Jo Palmer, said this was a policy with heart.
"The work this sector is doing is important, vital and part of what makes Tasmania a special place to live," Minister Palmer said.
"Our Strong Plan will ensure a well-resourced community services industry so they can meet the need of Tasmanians in local communities.
"We know Tasmanian have been doing it tough, and that's put more pressure on emergency food relief, so we are increasing our funding, investing $5 million in capital upgrades for cold storage, logistics and commercial kitchens, and will do a review that the sector has asked for to map out a long-term sustainable future.
"We've been the biggest supporters of Neighbourhood Houses, and I'm proud that we will be boosting our funding and investing in a new House upgrade program.
"After a decade of our ongoing support, there are now 71 Men's Sheds supporting a connection to community, so we're investing in the Men's Sheds Association, capital upgrades and grants for new tools and equipment too.
"We are also increasing our support for emergency food providers, investing in Neighbourhood houses and Men's Sheds, and introducing an entirely new Ticket to Wellbeing, to help older Tasmanians be active and stay connected to their community."
Minister Palmer added: "In a first, we're going to help older Tasmanians stay active and connected with a new Ticket to Wellbeing, which is based on our highly successful Ticket to Play for younger Tasmanians. This offers older Tasmanians two vouchers of $100 to get active and stay connected.
"Only a majority Liberal Government has a Strong Plan to ensure these services get the support they need to continue delivering the benefits they provide to the Tasmanian community."
That's why a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Provide guaranteed indexation to the community sector of 12.5 per cent over the next four years, a level above Treasury's CPI forecasts.
- Boost operational funding for Neighbourhood Houses, including continuing the Community Connector program and investing in a new House upgrade program.
- Invest in our Men's Sheds with new funding for upgrades, a competitive grants program, and funding for the peak Association.
- Deliver a nation-first Ticket to Wellbeing program for seniors, with extra funding for digital inclusion and COTA.
- Boost funding for Carers Tasmania and Carers Week.
- Help Tasmanians on low incomes with 2000 more No Interest loans available a year, and provide ongoing funding to the Energy Saver Subsidy.
- Increase funding for volunteers, and deliver Tasmania's first Volunteering Strategy, with more funding for Meals on Wheels.
- Deliver a whole of government strategy to start the shift from emergency food relief to food resilience, with increased funding, capital investment and support across the State, including our Food Vans.
- Invest in new services and supports for the LGBTIQA+ community.
- Deliver a new practical leadership program for women in the community sector.
Cost: $51.8 million including $7 million in capital infrastructure.
