FOR MEDIA 10 October 1983
QUEENSLAND REJECTS FEDERAL FUNDS
The Qivc-ensland Government has displayed a cavalier
approach t%-o funds provided by the Federal Government.
It has rejected Commonwealth funds on a number of
occasions over the years for totally unsatisfactory reasons.
The people of Queensland have been the big losers.
The following are just some examples over the last
decade of Commonwealth funds rejected by the Queensland
Government: Land Commission$ 78 million
Aboriginal Grants $ 3 million
$ 45,000 Aboriginal welfare offered by
both Mr Fraser and myself.
$ 6.77 million. Commonwealth/ State Hospital
Cost Sharing Agreement.
$ 3.1 million. Emergency Mortgagje relief.
Programme for low income earner rental
housing construction.
$ 7 million lost because Queensland delayed
joining Medibank.
$ 12,692 for Women's refuges refused because
the Queensland Government was not prepared
to make a for grant..
$ 33,534 Women's refuges refused same
reason. $ 4.2 million refused under the Decentralisation
Growth Centre Programme. Areas affected by
l. oss of homes under this programme were
Townsville, Fitzroy and Mloreton regions. / 2
1973-75
19-75-78
19 82-83
1981-82
1982 1975 1976-77
1977-78
1973-75 ( a I
As part of the National's election promises they have at
last graciously decided to participate in the Mortgage
Relief Scheme of the Federal Government and in Rent
relief assistance to the homeless, women and families
in crisis.
Of the State's $] 00 million saved by the wages pause
up to 30 June, only $ 46 million had been spent.
Queensland was the last State to agree to the Community
Employment Programme. It remains the only State not
to have proposed names for the Consultative Committee
needed for the Programme to get off the ground.
Townsville