A Shorten Labor Government will provide $40 million over four years to emergency relief organisations across the country, including over $4.8 million for organisations that deliver services in inner city Melbourne. 
 
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for stronger community services, and bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals. 
 
The Morrison Government is slashing funding to vital emergency relief services. 
 
Labor will reverse the Liberals’ cuts to emergency relief organisations and provide a much needed funding boost to the sector.  
 
This will boost the ability of these grassroots organisations to deliver critical support to people when they need it most.  
 
The Liberals’ cruel cuts will make it harder for people facing extreme financial hardship to have a basic quality of life and get by.  
 
Unlike the Liberals who only stand up for the top end of town, Labor will always support Australians doing it tough.   
 
A Shorten Labor Government will reverse the Liberals’ cuts to emergency relief services in inner Melbourne by providing additional funding over the next four years, including:   

• $1,622,000 for Australian Red Cross Society. 
• $165,000 for Australian Greek Welfare Society. 
• $292,000 for Anglicare Victoria.  
• $612,000 for Adventist Development and Relief Agency. 
• $53,000 for The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co-operative Limited.
• $35,000 for Thorne Harbour Health (formerly Victorian Aids Council).

Without this funding, many of these organisations will be forced to turn away vulnerable people seeking assistance or have to cut the services they offer.  

Over the next four years, Labor will also provide a funding boost to organisations providing emergency relief across the greater Melbourne metro region and Victoria, including:  

• $936,000 for The Salvation Army Victoria.  
• $156,000 for Community Information and Support Victoria.
• $90,000 for VincentCare Victoria.
• $48,000 for Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Cooperative.
• $14,000 for Launch Housing.
• $40,000 for Sacred Heart Mission.
• $328,000 for Catholic Care Victoria/Tasmania to deliver services to Victoria and Tasmania.
• $457,000 for Uniting to deliver services to Victoria and Tasmania. 

These services provide support to vulnerable people who have nowhere else to turn by providing food hampers, funding for fuel to attend specialist medical appointments and other financial assistance.   
 
The charities and not-for-profits that do this work are increasingly stretched and need more resources.   
 
A Shorten Labor Government will also support Australians in financial hardship by:   

• Doubling the number of financial counsellors across the country.    
• Expanding low-cost alternatives to pay day loans for low-income Australians, providing safe and fair credit options when things get tough.
• Reversing the Morrison Government’s $5.5 million cut to emergency relief organisations across the country and providing a much needed top up to the emergency relief sector.    

Many vulnerable Australians are falling through the cracks. Labor will make sure our charities and not-for-profits have the resources they need to support our fellow Australians.