Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

What we have seen is that in states such as Queensland community groups have lost $368 million. Local councils have lost $60 million. Skills and training have lost $287 million. Of course, this is the approach that has been followed by conservative governments across Australia, drawing inspiration from the Big Society advocates in England. We note that, of course, in Queensland the conservatives are eager to go even further. Peter Costello's Commission of Audit have made it clear they want a focus upon the privatisation of essential services. So conservative parties in this country are using this rhetoric of the Big Society to actually attack community organisations, undermine the rights of citizens and undermine the levels of social engagement in this country. This is an excuse for the privatisation of services and budget cuts to services which we have seen— (Time expired)