By Xavier Smerdon
THE State Government has been accused of stripping funds from Wyndham’s community libraries.
Member for Tarneit, Tim Pallas, said a new agreement will see public libraries lose $4.95 million.
“The small print in the new Libraries Funding agreement has revealed the Baillieu Government is cutting up to $4.95 million from our public libraries,” Mr Pallas said.
“The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is seeking answers from the Baillieu Government, and has called on councils across the state to not sign the new libraries funding agreement.
“The MAV found that even though councils were now paying more than under previous agreements, Mr Baillieu is trying to avoid paying for public libraries.”
But Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said a cut of more than $2 million to Public Libraries Grants Program was inherited from the former Labor Government.
“The Coalition Government successfully protected public libraries recurrent funding from further reductions in difficult economic circumstances,” Ms Powell said.
“The Government has also offered to pay recurrent library funding to councils in a lump sum as soon as a funding agreement is signed to enable them to receive the interest.
“The Government has also invested $17.2 million in the Public Libraries Capital Works Program and $4.5 million in the Premiers’ Reading Challenge Book Fund.”
Mr Pallas said libraries were an important part of the Wyndham community.
“Mr Baillieu has been caught red-handed helping himself to the funding that keeps our libraries open and available to all,” he said.
“As a visit to any one of the existing four libraries in Wyndham will show, public libraries are vital information and social hubs within our community.”
