Will’s Word: $190m funding hope or fiddling with the fine print?

The Government is dropping $190 million on a “Social Investment Fund”. Big announcement, big promises, and they say it'll fix deep social problems, help vulnerable people, and stop issues before they spiral.

All that good stuff, it’s a nice idea. But, I'm sorry to be facetious about it, we've heard this before. Every few years, someone comes out swinging with a bold new plan, smarter, better, different, all that jazz.

Spoiler alert, it usually isn't - this time it's 20 new initiatives. Autism support, youth offending, family help, all good stuff, but most of it already exists. This isn't exactly brand new. It's just more funding with a flashier title.

Let's talk numbers: the Government already spends about $7 billion a year on social services, so what's this $190m going to change? They argue it'll be more measured and evidence-based, that sounds responsible, that actually sounds good.

I'm not going to rain on their parade, but saying it's going to be measured and evidence-based is the bare minimum. That should always be happening, and also, this fund might start replacing existing contracts. I don't know about that, that's a red flag.

Isn't this about helping people? Or, if you look with a microscope, is the Government just trying to cut costs by stealth? Seriously, we know this Government is hell-bent on saving the taxpayer dollar and don't get me wrong, that sounds good.

Are we cutting corners here? Are we cutting costs in the long run? Finance Minister Nicola Willis says this is a “force for enduring change”. Sure, maybe, but politicians say that every time.

Right now, I'm hearing a whole lot of talk. Let's see if they follow through.

That's Will's Word.

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