Gary's Speeches

Warragul RSL Community Memorial Centre: Funding

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The action I seek is for the Minister for Community Development to reaffirm the Brumby government's commitment to provide $182 000 in funding that was announced in January this year for the refurbishment of the Warragul RSL Community Memorial Centre and ask if this funding can be increased. The reason I call on the minister to reinforce and increase this funding allocation is that the federal government has reneged on its contribution to the project. Over 12 months ago the Howard government approved the funding application through the regional partnerships program. The application was ticked off and strongly supported by the Gippsland Area Consultative Committee, which is a longstanding process adopted in Gippsland to assist community groups to tap into the regional partnerships funding program.

The Baw Baw Shire Council, which is also a party to this project, committed $25 000 because the project was deemed to have significant community benefit. The refurbished facility is intended by the RSL to be made available to community groups for meetings, health and wellbeing sessions and a wide range of community activities as well as the RSL's own regular monthly meetings and group activities. Funding for this project was intended to come from four sources: a federal government contribution of $376 000, a state government contribution of $182 000, a shire contribution of $25 000, and the RSL was going to use funds it has available from the sale of its old building.

The RSL has been operating under very difficult circumstances for over two years since the sale of its premises in Smith Street, Warragul. It purchased a building formerly used by the Exclusive Brethren, which was in serious need of a major revamp. The federal government grant was announced 12 months ago and the shire made its commitment around the same time, yet it took the Brumby government until January this year to commit. The project should have commenced 12 months ago. If it had, the federal funds would have been forthcoming and expended well before the federal election.

The shameless and heartless decision of the Rudd government has left our local war veterans and their families in a very difficult situation. They desperately need clarification from the state government as to the status of its contribution so they can make a decision on whether to proceed and about what scope of works they can now afford.

The RSL has spent over $30 000 preparing applications for the federal and state governments and on architects plans, which will now have to be reviewed at more cost. I call on the Minister for Community Development to reaffirm his funding commitment and seriously consider increasing the Brumby government allocation in light of the disgusting and unprincipled decision of the Rudd government.