Member for Fisher Peter Slipper announced grants totalling $2670 for two veterans groups in Fisher.
The Naval Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, at Caloundra, has been allocated $1087 from the Veteran and Community Grants programme, while the Beerwah-Peachester RSL Sub-branch has been allocated $1583 from the Building Excellence in Support and Training funding programme.
Veterans and ex-service people in Fisher will benefit from Veteran and Community Grants funding, notwithstanding savage cuts to the two programmes in the Budget.
“Veteran and Community Grants help improve the health and wellbeing of the veteran community by supporting a range of projects where they can learn skills to help them remain independent and active, particularly for the elderly living by themselves,” Mr Slipper said.
“However, the Gillard-Brown Labor Government has cut $8 million in funding from this programme and the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) programme over the next four years.”
“I am pleased that the Naval Association of Queensland and the Beerwah-Peachester RSL Sub-branch have benefited from these programmes, but I am worried that other organisations across Fisher and the Sunshine Coast will not be able to benefit in the future because of the cuts in funding.”
“The Liberal National opposition recognises and appreciates the work done by volunteer veteran welfare and pensions officers, advocates and others in the veteran and ex-service community. Cutting vital Commonwealth funding support will only make this work even harder.”