Labor accuses Coalition of abandoning commitment to closing the gap after $500,000 of funding withdrawn

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A frontline Indigenous services program, launched on a recommendation by the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody, has been told it will no longer receive federal funding from the end of the month.



The NSW and ACT Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) was informed last week its funding of $500,000 a year for a program helping Indigenous people reintegrate into daily life after jail would end on 30 June.

Phil Naden, the head of the ALS, said it did not expect the government to reverse its decision, and the ALS “carry a great sadness” at the loss.

“We have heard so many public statements by government, in the lead-up to and after the 2014 budget, that no frontline services in Indigenous Affairs would be cut," he said.

"Our Prisoner ThroughCare field staff are engaged in vitally important work on the front line to assist people leaving prison avoid further recidivism, and these public statements do not reflect what our Prisoner ThroughCare staff were accomplishing."

Naden said the service was already hurting from a 4.5% cut to its budget from six months ago.

"Cost-saving measures are one thing, but a direct hit to frontline services – losing the whole Prisoner ThroughCare unit – well that’s just disappointing."

“And for the Aboriginal people who were benefiting from using this service, we’re truly sorry, and we can only hope the government will see the light once again, and fund this necessary service for our most vulnerable citizens."

The indigenous affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, had previously said the 4.5% cut would be met by getting rid of red tape and inefficiencies, but later admitted to Senate estimates it would include direct funding.

The opposition spokesman for indigenous affairs, Shayne Neumann, told Guardian Australia: “Now the consequences of his [Scullion’s] misrepresentations have been shown by the first phone calls to Atsils [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services] who deliver these services,” he said.

“These are important services. This is a government that has abandoned its previous bipartisan commitment to justice targets in closing the gap.”

The Prime Minister's office did not respond to requests for comment.