By ALESHA CAPONE
SEVERAL volunteer-run groups in the West have been left devastated after the Federal Government cancelled funding, which would have been used to support community and charity work.
The Liberal Government has withdrawn up to $600,000 from groups in the West.
The Building Multicultural Communities Program (BMCP) funds had been announced in the national budget by the previous Labor Government.
However, the Federal Government has since sent letters to many clubs to say their funding had been terminated.
The Footscray-based Vietnamese Community in Australia Victorian Chapter have lost $41,000 they were awarded under the BMCP.
Vice-president Viv Nguyen said they needed the funds for works including an air-conditioner and heater at a cultural and heritage centre in Sunshine North.
“Naturally I’m very disappointed,” Ms Nguyen said.
“But the president and myself have sought assistance to see if we can meet with the relevant minister and see what our prospects are. All is not lost from our perspective.”
General manager of Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association in Footscray, Hai Nguyen, said the group has lost $18,500 in promised BMCP funds.
“We spent the money in advance because we were told it had to spent by 10 December, then they sent a letter that same day which said we wouldn’t get the money,” he said.
“We are a not-for-profit organisation and we depend on the government and community volunteers for support.”
Last week, Gellibrand MP Tim Watts and the Opposition spokeswoman for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Michelle Rowland, visited the Polish Club in Albion, which has lost $160,000 funding.
The club’s president, Andrew Korab, said the centre was “running on fumes” and the building upgrades were “very urgent”.
Other groups which could have potentially lost funding include the Sri Durga Arts Culture/Educational Centre in Rockbank, the Hobsons Bay Salvation Army in Altona and the Australian Arabic Women’s Community Group in Newport.
Gorton MP Brendan O’Connor said the Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews needed to explain to community organisations why he was “ripping away their funding”.
A spokesperson for the Mr Andrews said the funds have been terminated because the “government is committed to reviewing spending to ensure it is aligned with priorities”.
