Friday, July 23, 1999
Welfare groups facing the gag
By TOM ALLARD in Canberra
Welfare groups will have to warn the Federal Government in advance when
making negative comments if they want to get funding this financial year
from the Department of Family and Community Services.
Funding for 1999-2000 is contingent on welfare groups providing "early
warning for all controversial issues planned for media coverage which
might attract public comment".
The condition, inserted after initial consultations over the funding
agreement, "surprised" the chief beneficiary of the funding, the
Australian Council of Social Service and its member organisations.
But the ACOSS president, Mr Michael Raper, said he was unconcerned by
the clause in the Department of Family and community Services agreement
because "we would not expect the requirement was designed to muzzle us".
Labor's family and community services spokesman, Mr Wayne Swan, took a
far stronger stance, arguing it was "thuggery" on the part of the Government.
"This Government is using thuggery with these agencies," Mr Swan said.
"The tying of money to an advance warning for the Government makes an
absolute mockery of their claim that they believe in some kind of
coalition with community agencies.
"Apparently, in the Government's eyes, a coalition means the right to
tell social agencies what they can and cannot say. This attack on the
independence of community groups is unprecedented."
However, Mr Raper said the early warning was standard practice for his
organisation and the agreement simply codified it.
"We always give them a copy of a press release ahead of time and it
hasn't stopped us from being very critical of the Government," he said.
"We give them a Budget submission each year so they know our position."
However, he said the welfare groups wanted the clause clarified so it
did not place an onerous burden on them.
Mr Raper rejected suggestions that the clause was, in principle, undemocratic.
--
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