Politics FACSIA spending

[cancat]

FACSIA is the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. They publish a report of funding each year. It's an interesting list and a huge amount of $$$.

http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/grantsfunding/announcements/Pages/default_delete_later.aspx

How much of it do you support?

Given the debacle in the NT housing scheme, how confident are you that taxpayer's money is being well spent?

 

[HarryTiger]

OMG Firefox struggled under that!!

I put the 1882 grant lines into a spreadsheet.

Total grant money $1,144,981,651.30

Average grant $608,385.57

Top 20

Most of these are "Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) Program" but I've placed the Purpose in brackets where not. Broadband For Seniors is notable.

Value inc GST Recipient
$28,712,229.70 East Kimberley CDEP PTY LTD
$25,757,073.10 Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation
$25,612,527.60 Bungala Aboriginal Corporation - APY Lands
$25,000,000.00 Department of the Chief Minister (To make a one off contribution to the Northern Territory Government to assist it in providing a range of social support services in the Alice Springs.)
$24,258,155.90 Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation
$21,318,091.30 East Arnhem Shire Council
$18,935,551.80 Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation Limited
$17,651,295.20 Tiwi Islands Shire Council
$16,847,380.00 Nooda Ngulegoo Aboriginal Corporation
$16,792,380.00 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council
$16,500,000.00 NEC Australia Pty Ltd (Broadband For Seniors)
$16,500,000.00 Outback Stores (Funding support for projects delivering food security in remote communities)
$16,406,923.50 Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation
$16,395,923.50 Roper Gulf Shire Council
$15,915,963.80 Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Association Incorporated
$15,304,576.10 Kullarri Regional CDEP Inc
$15,085,551.80 Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation
$15,085,551.80 Community Enterprises Australia Ltd (Kununurra)
$14,160,636.60 Central Desert Shire Council
$14,057,997.00 City of Charles Sturt (St Clair Residential Development)


Smallest was $436.

Here's the spreadsheet, saved from OpenOffice to Excel, should be OK.
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a12h8h5/n/FACSIAGrants_xls_zip

 

[tandino]

Those numbers seem a bit off.

$16,500,000.00 To produce and distribute a Newsletter.

16 mill? That can't be right.

 

[cancat]

I put the 1882 grant lines into a spreadsheet.

Just curious, what is the total for items including the words 'Indigenous Women '?

 

[azreal]

Deadlys 2010. 22,000.00

and the largest I could see (I did only scan it) was $25m to make a one off contribution to the Northern Territory Government to assist it in providing a range of social support services in the Alice Springs. I think Harry's figures are ****'d.

 

[HarryTiger]

Wait my amounts are ****ed!

Edit: Fixed. The amounts were right but the columns didn't sort together.

98 grants with Program Title 'Indigenous Women' for a total of $4.4 mill. Lots of self esteem workshops.

 

[medusala]

They seem to be doing well.

http://www.transremote.com.au/mww/

Marra Worra Worra has numerous business interests comprising the following:

· 50% share of Bandaral Ngadu Pty Ltd which owns and operates Ngiyali Roadhouse, one of two roadhouses in Fitzroy Crossing;
· 50% share in KRSP Pty Ltd, an essential services company which has a government contract to maintain power, water and sewerage facilities in 55 indigenous communities throughout the Kimberley;
· 33% share in NBC Aboriginal Corporation, an architectural and housing project management firm, specialising in remote building;
· 12% share of Leedal Pty Ltd, an Aboriginal business which owns and operates a number of service businesses in Fitzroy Crossing, including the Tarunda Supermarket, The Crossing Inn, the Fitzroy River Lodge, and the Fitzroy Crossing Post Office.

In addition to this, Marra Worra Worra has numerous land holding investments in both Fitzroy Crossing and Broome.

 

[HarryTiger]

Here's a new variety of BMX bandits....

Establishment or Expansion of Youth Diversionary Activities
Red Centre BMX Club Inc, BMX Program.
12/01/09 Alice Springs Office

$393,800.00

They must have some sweet jumps that would make even Pedro jealous.

 

[bit_pattern]

How dare those Abo's get so much money!

 

[DeanoT]

How dare those Abo's get so much money!

It's not about how much, it's about what outcomes are achieved for the money spent. All governments have failed miserably to use taxpayer money effectively to improve the lives of the indigenous.

 

[HarryTiger]

Actually BP you were the first one here to mention "abos".

It was just coincidence that 19 of the top 20 grants I listed are seemingly for that cause.

Why can't those councils just collect rates like all the others do?

 

[cancat]

There are 90 separate items that include the words Stolen Generation
e.g
"Undertake activities which assist in meeting the unique needs of Stolen Generations members".

It might be convenient for all parties if no verification was done on the qualifications of those benefitting from these grants. The Labor party have their "victims", people get paid.

41 items allocating large amount of money to Powerhouse fuel. Does anyone know what this is?

 

[theGimp]

How dare those Abo's get so much money!

Agreed.

 

[bit_pattern]

Top 20

Most of these are "Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) Program" but I've placed the Purpose in brackets where not. Broadband For Seniors is notable.

Value inc GST Recipient
$28,712,229.70 East Kimberley CDEP PTY LTD http://www.filefactory.com/file/a12h8h5/n/FACSIAGrants_xls_zip

Yet the Victorian government has given away over $80,000,000.00 in subsidies in subsidies just for for-profit "major events" over the last few years but you don't see people starting threads to whinge about it. Maybe if they were black and among the most disadvantaged people in our society, maybe then they'd earn the righteous indignation of some of the posters in his thread.

 

[HarryTiger]

Yet the Victorian government has given away over $80,000,000.00 in subsidies in subsidies just for for-profit "major events" over the last few years but you don't see people starting threads to whinge about it. Maybe if they were black and among the most disadvantaged people in our society, maybe then they'd earn the righteous indignation of some of the posters in his thread.

I don't see many threads whinging about the amounts the indigenous communities get, a total of 1 in fact. If there are other long lists detailing the other ways our government is pissing money up the wall I'd like to see and whinge about them too.

 

[theGimp]

Yet the Victorian government has given away over $80,000,000.00 in subsidies in subsidies just for for-profit "major events" over the last few years but you don't see people starting threads to whinge about it. Maybe if they were black and among the most disadvantaged people in our society, maybe then they'd earn the righteous indignation of some of the posters in his thread.

Stop pretending you care about people you fraud.

 

[cancat]

Yet the Victorian government has given away over $80,000,000.00 in subsidies in subsidies just for for-profit "major events" over the last few years but you don't see people starting threads to whinge about it. Maybe if they were black and among the most disadvantaged people in our society, maybe then they'd earn the righteous indignation of some of the posters in his thread.

Start your own thread on that then. The Brumby govt claims "major events generate an economic benefit to Victoria of more than $1 billion a year".

Feel free to contribute to the discussion rather than just sniping and crying racist.

Do you think taxpayers' money is being well spent?

What criteria is being used to determine whether the objectives are being achieved? Or are we just throwing money at Aborigines to salve our consciences?

Why are the indigenous people of Australia still so disadvantaged despite year upon year of throwing billions of dollars at the problem?

 

[medusala]

Yet the Victorian government has given away over $80,000,000.00 in subsidies in subsidies just for for-profit "major events" over the last few years but you don't see people starting threads to whinge about it.

It has been mentioned more than a few times. Try posting on the Hawthorn board that the Tas govt sponsorship of Hawthorn does not bring any benefit to the state! They cut up rather rough.

Maybe if they were black and among the most disadvantaged people in our society, maybe then they'd earn the righteous indignation of some of the posters in his thread.

Disadvantaged because?

This is simply racist policy.

 

[azreal]

This is simply racist policy.

Is giving money to an area of need racist policy? Remember this department is supposed to look after indigenous affairs, surely we would expect that they would be giving money to a fair few indigenous groups/organisations.

 

[medusala]

Is giving money to an area of need racist policy? Remember this department is supposed to look after indigenous affairs, surely we would expect that they would be giving money to a fair few indigenous groups/organisations.

Yes it is. How can race specific funding not be racist policy? Ditto funding the multicultural industry.

Why do we even need a department for indigenous affairs? Why do we need an office for women? Why do we need a minister for multiculturalism?

Would you find it acceptable for the Catholic Church to receive funding for welfare purposes and have it turn around and buy a stake in

two roadhouses
a services company which then contracts to the government
a housing project management firm
supermarkets
post offices
and other businesees

??

I doubt very few at all would find that acceptable.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

41 items allocating large amount of money to Powerhouse fuel. Does anyone know what this is?

Pretty sure they're a stove/gas company - would be something to do with catering/establishing food outlets in the communities.

Why can't those councils just collect rates like all the others do?

Possibly because the bulk of the constituents are dirt poor, and councils wouldn't be able to provide basic services without government support?

Much of the money being split between the various councils and authorities could certainly be streamlined, but complaining about stuff like a BMX track so these kids have somewhere to play (and exercise) strikes me as pathetically miserly.

 

[medusala]

Possibly because the bulk of the constituents are dirt poor, and councils wouldn't be able to provide basic services without government support?

Many of the businesses owned by such councils goes way beyond providing basic services.

Does not the federak government already provide funding to local government?

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/local/assistance/index.aspx

The Australian Government has provided around $33 billion in Financial Assistance Grants to local government since 1974-75 (including 2009-10). The grants are currently provided under the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 (the Act).

 

[Chief]

complaining about stuff like a BMX track so these kids have somewhere to play (and exercise) strikes me as pathetically miserly.

Have to agree. Yes, money is wasted but there's no real alternative. You couldn't pay big industries to set up so far from major population centres.

 

[medusala]

Have to agree. Yes, money is wasted but there's no real alternative. You couldn't pay big industries to set up so far from major population centres.

I think there is a real alternative. For starters you could attempt to empower individuals rather than by having money going to a council. Granting freehold title to property would be a start. Some have even suggested zonal tax rebates/scales (Barnaby picked up on this recently).

Few would disagree that the current system is a dismal failure and has seen many billions wasted.

Surely there must be a better alternative. Noel Pearson for one has been talking about this for a while.

 

[HarryTiger]

Much of the money being split between the various councils and authorities could certainly be streamlined, but complaining about stuff like a BMX track so these kids have somewhere to play (and exercise) strikes me as pathetically miserly.

Did you see the figure?

$393,800.00

The parcel of land shouldn't cost anything, they own that. After that you need to shift dirt. Hire a bull dozer and what not.

Communities that actually bother to help themselves would achieve that via a working bee type operation. Honestly, everyone regardless of what their race should be expected to help themselves where they can.