Northern Territory Government Accused of Diverting Funding

In the wake of allegations that the Territory Government has directed Federal funding away from Family and Community Services, the Opposition are calling on the Minister, Marion Scrymgour, to release last year’s independent audit of FACS.

Barry Hanson, the head of the Northern Territory Council of Social Services, alleges that the Territory Government received $179 million from the Federal Government in 2006-07 for Family and Child Services but spent just $43 million in that category.

A series of disturbing incidents, including the death of a 12 year old girl in foster care in July of 2007, forced the Territory Government to commission an independent audit of client care across the Department – including foster care, child protection, mental health, aged and disabilities and substance abuse.

When the audit was completed the Minister for Family and Community Services, Marion Scrymgour, refused to release it on the specious grounds that all the public needed to know was that the recommendations were being implemented.

“It was highly likely the Government had dirty laundry to hide when the Minister refused to release the findings of the audit in late 2007,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Opposition.

“Today’s allegations suggest that the Government was hiding the diversion of funding from the protection of the most vulnerable in our society.

“If the Territory Government was diverting Federal funding from child protection at the very time a young girl died in foster care, in preventable circumstances, it’s a scandal.

“The Minister now has the clear the air on this issue – she must release the audit of face the accusation of a cover-up.”

2008-07-15