“The Abbott Government has cruelly cut fully-budgeted and approved grants awarded to not-for-profit groups, charities, local government organisations and volunteer organisations in Adelaide, including a grant awarded to the Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Community Inc” said the Federal Member for Adelaide and Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood, Kate Ellis this week.
Ellis was reacting to the Abbott Government’s decision to cut the Building Multicultural Communities Program. Many community organisations received letters in the last few days stating the federal Government has withdrawn funding for their previously successful grants.
“This is a disgraceful betrayal of our multicultural community,” Kate Ellis said.
It is worth noting that the Building Multicultural Communities Program grants were fully budgeted in the 2012/13 Federal budget.
Greens spokesperson on multiculturalism, senator Richard Di Natale has also come out strongly against the Abbott government because of the cuts in the $ 6.6 million Migrant Communities Employment Fund.
“This is a mean spirited cut, that will have little impact on the Budget bottom line but will hurt migrant Australians who face big challenges in labour market,” said Senator Di Natale. “This is further evidence that Tony Abbott’s commitment to multiculturalism is hollow – The Greens will fight to have the fund reinstated:” he said.