New laws cut funding red tape

Community groups will have more time to deliver frontline services after new laws were introduced into State Parliament to reduce regulation and red tape.

Communities Minister Tracy Davis said the Communities Legislation (Funding Red Tape Reduction) Amendment Bill 2014 would simplify current laws and improve the management and use of public funds.

“This Bill will deliver reforms that slash red tape and the cost of doing business for funded organisations so they can focus more of their valuable resources on services and products that make a real difference in people’s lives,” Ms Davis said.

“Under the former Labor Government there were three different Acts to provide funding to community organisations, which has resulted in duplicated and inconsistent laws.

“Some organisations needed to make multiple funding applications and have multiple versions of the same policy and standards to receive funding.

“Under this new Bill, non-government organisations will use a single application for funding, removing duplication and unnecessary compliance requirements.

“The Newman Government committed to reducing red tape at the last election. These new laws will reduce costs for community and disability organisations by $2.6 million per year.”

Last financial year, the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services invested $1.5 billion for not-for-profit organisations, local governments and other organisations to deliver child safety, disability and community services.

Ms Davis said the introduction of the Bill would also help to provide strong safeguards for the effective and continued delivery of essential community services, while delivering better value for taxpayers’ money.

“This Bill will allow organisations to focus more of their time and resources on frontline products and services, rather than on meeting the compliance requirements of several different Acts,” she said.

“Importantly though, the Bill also ensures my department has clear legal powers to safeguard the large investment of public funds in the non-government sector and protect the people who use publicly-funded products and services.

“This will enable government to take swift action if there is a failure in service delivery, improper use of public funds, or harm to someone using government-funded services.”

For more information on the department’s supports and services visit www.communities.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 11 February 2014

Media Contact Katherine Fraser 0417 172 480