More than 1,200 Tasmanians have signed an open letter calling on the state government to commit to long-term funding for community services.
Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston tabled the letter, addressed to Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Treasurer Eric Abetz, in parliament today ahead of the state budget.
The letter was co-authored by the Tasmanian Coalition of Community Service Peaks, a group of 20 organisations representing more than 28,000 employees and 46,000 volunteers across the state.
It calls on the government to move away from short-term funding cycles, which signatories say are leaving essential services at breaking point amid rising demand and workforce pressures.
TasCOSS chief executive Adrienne Picone, spokesperson for the coalition, said the public response showed Tasmanians wanted community services treated as essential supports.
“By signing this letter, Tasmanians are standing up for the services that help people in every corner of our state to access support before reaching crisis point,” Picone said.
“Tasmanians are sending a clear message to government to use this budget to invest in prevention and early support now or risk paying far more later when people are pushed into avoidable crisis.”
Johnston said tabling the letter ensured the views of people who relied on community services would be formally recorded.
“Our community services are the core foundations that keep people housed, connected, safe and well,” Johnston said.
“By tabling this letter in parliament, we’re putting the government on notice – Tasmanians want certainty, not stop-start funding and last-minute rescue packages.”
She said the premier and treasurer should commit to longer funding terms so services could meet demand and people could get help when they first reached out.
The campaign has also been backed by Tasmanians sharing first-hand experiences of community services.
Louise Paine said West Moonah Neighbourhood House gave her stability while she was living with mental illness.
She has since become a board member.
“Without community services, I’d be institutionalised. I’d be in and out of hospital – I probably wouldn’t be here,” Paine said.
Burnie young carer Izzy Dewar said she had supported her family from the age of eight while trying to stay engaged at school.
She said community support made it possible for her to finish secondary school and attend university.
“Without community services, I wouldn’t have gone to university or even completed year 12. I would have gone down a completely different path in life,” Dewar said.
The coalition’s pre-budget submission, lodged in November, called for five-year funding contracts to be fast-tracked across peak organisations by the start of the 2026-27 financial year.
It also sought $50,000 to fund an independent broker for a partnership agreement with the state government and $400,000 for a workforce reform program.
The state budget is due to be handed down later this month.
