Don't take away our voice - ACOSS

By the tone of the news release, I would suggest that the Australian Council of Social Services is getting a tad pissed off with our illustrious PM. Apart from taking a chainsaw to the welfare sector which is bad enough, now that asshole Scott Morrison is suggesting that the gov should not fund community group representatives to "advocate".

"It's not the government's view that taxpayers' funding should be there to support what is effectively an advocacy group". more

And this is what the gov is setting about doing; taking away our voice whilst the big end of town drowns everyone else's voice out:

At least nine community advisory or engagement mechanisms have been dismantled and five peak or advocacy bodies gone;

There are a limited number of new advisory, review or engagement structures, but with limited scope and membership;

No new advisory mechanisms have to date been announced on key policy issues, including housing and homelessness, child and family policy, income support, employment and others

There is no prime ministerial, or ministerial, community sector advisory body like the Prime Minister's advisory council on business. more

So in repsonse, here we have the reaction from ACOSS to that vile Scott Morrison. It's well written, but I get the feeling they'd have liked to put a few choice swear words in there:

"ACOSS has long argued that the quality of our democracy requires governments to engage in meaningful dialogue with all key stakeholders, including civil society organisations and the broader Australian Public. However, this is largely absent in the current approach. 

"It is disappointing that the voices, experiences and ideas of the community are going unheard, leading to an erosion in confidence in public institutions and our democratic systems. 

"Since its election, and particularly through its first Budget, the government appears to have taken the view that supporting the legitimate advocacy activities of civil society is not an appropriate role or responsibility of government. 

"At the same time as it delivered a budget that will severely hurt the people who are the most vulnerable in our community, the government has de-funded a number of organisations representing politically marginalised groups: young people, refugees and asylum seekers, people affected by drug and alcohol addiction and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. more

Personally I thimk ACOSS is wasting it's breath. It's clear as day that the Abbott gov is going to listen to no one but it's own psychotic delusions. Perhaps ACOSS simply wants to get their view in the public arena as another nail in the Abbott coffin?