Welfare sector calls for emergency funds

(AAP) - The welfare sector says it's at breaking point and needs an immediate $300 million cash injection to keep services running.

Representatives of the social service sector met in Canberra on Wednesday to nut out
a plan to deal with the financial crisis.
The sector says demand for services like housing, counselling and emergency relief
has more than doubled over the past few months.
It wants an emergency response to be worked through at this weekend's meeting of
state and federal governments.
The sector says a $900 million stimulus package over three years is needed to keep
services running.
It also wants to see greater investment in small scale infrastructure like water
tanks, insulation and solar panels to reduce utility costs for the nation's most
disadvantaged.
Catholic Social Services executive director Frank Quinlan said the federal
government must intervene.
"Our agencies are really struggling to meet that increase demand and the resources
that we happily and generously provide ... is simply not enough in the current
crisis," he said.
Uniting Care national director Lin Hatfield Dodds said the government should be
prepared to move the budget into deficit to address the issue.
"If what it takes to get through this crisis is that budget be in deficit then so be
it," she said.
Salvation Army officer David Eldridge said the Australian community would be
prepared to see the budget go into deficit if the money was invested wisely.
"Families feel this budget deficit experience is getting worse and if unemployment
kicks in as well then more families will be affected."