Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Kevin Cocks (Pictured right, above) has called on the Queensland Government to consider long term impacts when deciding which programs and services it makes budget cuts to, in its aim to decrease public expenditure.
‘It may not be strategic for the government to make deep cuts into programs and services that provide early intervention and prevention programs to the most vulnerable groups in the Queensland community’ Mr Cocks said.
‘While we all understand the government’s objectives of fiscal prudence and reclaiming a triple A rating for Queensland, it is very important that this is done in a way that does not cause unnecessary harm to vulnerable citizens and lead to “bad debt” such as unnecessary increases in public expenditure further down the track.’
The Commission is aware of cuts being made to programs that assist in keeping people housed; finding employment for young people who are estranged from family members or disengaged from education; helping to prevent the transmission of life threatening diseases such as HIV and AIDS; assisting unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and vulnerable women to find or maintain employment and programs that support women who leave prison to reconnect with the community.
‘Many of these programs are designed to assist Queenslanders who have been disadvantaged over long periods, and whose levels of health, education, employment and access to adequate housing are not at the same level as the more privileged in our community’ Mr Cocks said.
‘I am concerned that some programs and services are being cut in ways that directly impact on the human rights of vulnerable Queenslanders.
‘‘Cutting early intervention and preventative programs places the government’s policy objective of building safer and healthier communities at great risk’ Mr Cocks warned.
