By MATT NICHOLLS
BARNABY Joyce has taken up the fight against bureaucracy to ensure that Armidale youth program BackTrack remains open for business.
The New England MP’s predecessor Tony Windsor had negotiated a four-year deal worth $800,000 for the one-of-a-kind organisation, but concerns were raised last month that the funds could be in jeopardy under the new Federal Government.
Mr Joyce met with stakeholders of BackTrack in Armidale on Friday and promised that he would “go into bat” for them and said he was confident that the remaining funds would be delivered.
He said the government was reviewing its programs and that BackTrack had been moved to a different funding category, thereby putting it under review.
“The meeting was very successful and I was overwhelmed with the enthusiasm from those involved in the BackTrack program show to their job,” Mr Joyce said.
“I would be straight with people and if they (the department) were coming back to me with a sense of ’I think this is going to hit the deck and I don’t think it’s going to work’, then I would be conveying that back to the meeting.
“I am not getting that sense. I’m getting a sense that we are going to try and line a few last things up and we should be all right.”
Now in its seventh year, BackTrack has been delivering life changing outcomes for young people, particularly boys.
Founder and manager Bernie Shakeshaft was unable to be at Friday’s meeting, but said he appreciated the New England MP’s visit.
“I know that Barnaby is working really hard behind the scenes to make sure that this funding continues and we are all really appreciative of that,” he said.
Mr Joyce said he hoped to confirm the continuation of funding this week.
