E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Topics: No Interest Loan Scheme, Good Shepherd, National Australia Bank, financial counselling, emergency relief, financial wellbeing, community partners, financial crisis, social safety net, dental on Medicare.
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: I'm really pleased to be here at Uniting Care, Wesley Bowden for a very important announcement. The announcement today is that the Federal Government will lock in funding for five years to continue our contribution to the No Interest Loan Scheme. This is a really important Scheme administered by Good Shepherd, and supported by NAB. This program provides for up to $3,000 of no interest loans, free from interest, free from administration fees, to help people on low incomes purchase important goods that they may need. Things like washing machines, things like computers or iPads. Today, we're also announcing the extension of the No Interest Loans for Vehicles program. This provides up to $5,000 for loans for people to get either repairs, pay for registration or make a contribution to a vehicle.
Today, it was wonderful to hear from participants about the life changing impact that these no interest loans have made, whether that is staying connected to the world through having a laptop, whether that is being able to stay connected to employment or volunteering opportunities by having a road-worthy vehicle. These are really life changing things. For some people, it may seem small, but for the participants we heard today, this is really important. This investment by the Federal Government gives certainty to both Good Shepherd and the National Australia Bank that we are serious about this program and that this program has our support.
Of course, this is a partnership, while the Australian Government funds for Good Shepherd to do the support and administration of this program, NAB actually provides those loans, and really it is a partnership, not just between the three organisations, the Federal Government, Good Shepherd and, of course, the National Australia Bank, but the many community partners that are on the ground delivering this program. Places like Uniting Care, Wesley Bowden, that not only support people with these no interest loans, but are funded to provide wraparound financial counselling and other support that's so critical to getting people back on their feet if they have been in financial crisis, or importantly, stopping them from being in more financial crisis.
This complements the Federal Government's investment in Financial Wellbeing and Capability. We've recently announced extensions to our funding for financial counselling, for the Saver Plus program, and increased our funding for Emergency Relief as well. In addition, we have funded, of course, the Leaving Violence Payment, providing critical support for women leaving a violent circumstance where they may need to set up and invest in setting up a new home. As just one example, we continue to strengthen our social safety net across the Commonwealth, and really pleased today to be making this announcement, but it does, as I said, rely on partnership, and I'd like to really thank all those involved who make a contribution to this program that's been a very long-standing program. I'm very pleased we're able to announce our commitment for the next five years.
STELLA AVRAMOPOULOS, GOOD SHEPHERD CHIEF EXECUTIVE: Similarly, Good Shepherd is very pleased on behalf of our community providers and NAB to get this funding for the next five years. It means that every year, more than 30,000 households will have access to affordable, safe and supported loans that can prevent people who are vulnerable and suffering financial stress from entering into hardship. And for that to be provided through communities that are in their local community that they know trust and can access as well. So thank you to the Federal Government and NAB our partners for the support. And the fact that only when we activate a coalition of sectors on issues like financial wellbeing and hardship, can we start to break the cycle. Thank you.
JESSICA FORREST, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK: Good morning. My name is Jessica. I'm representing the National Australia Bank, and NAB is extraordinarily proud of this partnership, which has really been helping a generation of Australians have dignity when they experience financial difficulties. We know that financial difficulty can happen to anyone, and when it does that, it's our role as a bank to provide support. There are some circumstances where people need extra support, and the NILS program is a fantastic initiative that's given more than a million Australians a fridge, a washing machine, a car when they need it, and access to dignity. We're so proud to work together with Good Shepherd and pleased to welcome the Government's additional support for the program. Thank you.
HELEN SHEPPARD, UNITING CARE WESLEY BOWDEN CHIEF EXECUTIVE: The No Interest Loan Scheme changes lives. It makes sure that children can get to school, that people can go to work, and that people can access sport and medical services that they need. Uniting Care, Wesley Bowden is delighted to be part of the partnership between the Australian Government, Good Shepherd, and NAB, to deliver NILS and NILS4Vehicles within Adelaide.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: So we might go to questions on NILS, and then I can quickly go to other questions, if you would like.
JOURNALIST: There's been a 200% increase in demand. Is that concerning to hear that? But obviously also good that we have a program like this can help those people.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I think it is really encouraging that people are reaching out for help for this program. It demonstrates just how important a program like this is, if you think of what the alternative might be, and I heard one of those alternatives just before, the alternative might be to get a car loan that has, say, a 36% interest rate now that, if you think about could put someone into significantly more financial crisis. So, while I recognise there is a demand, I think there is a significantly important program, and that's what this is responding to.
JOURANLIST: Do you think since this is the second round it's being offered - If we continue, do you think that the Commonwealth will put more money in if more people are needing help?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: This funding locks in the Commonwealth contribution for the next five years. The funding for this program was terminating, and it's very clear that our Government has seen the value of this program and has made a commitment for the next five years so that NAB and Good Shepherd have the certainty that the Federal Government is backing this program.
JOURANLIST: I’ve just got some questions from Seven just in regards to Medicare and dental. Will the Government consider adding dental to Medicare? And why not?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: We understand as a Government that there has long been an aspiration for dental to be on Medicare. The Health Minister has been very clear, though, that the short-term challenge that our Government has been addressing getting general practice back on a sustainable footing. When we came to Government, Medicare and bulk billing was in dire straits as a result of cuts made by the Liberal Government. So our focus has been about ensuring that Medicare is funded properly we have, over subsequent budgets, made investments into bulk billing, and the Prime Minister's recent announcement of more than $8 billion to be extending the bulk billing incentive to everyone in this country is a really critical investment. While we understand there's a long term aspiration for dental to be put on Medicare. Our first priority is getting Medicare and general practice, in particular, bulk billing and the investment in primary health back in actually delivering the health care that people need.
JOURNALIST: The Dental Association had a proposal to provide a capped maximum of around $1,100 of free dental treatment to eligible seniors every two years. Will you guys look at that?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I would say our first priority is about delivering a general, sustainable, general practice network. We know that general practice is facing many difficulties as a result of the freezes put in place by Peter Dutton himself when he was Health Minister. So quite frankly, our focus is on supporting first and foremost general practice. We continue to invest in dental through the child dental scheme, along with partnerships with states and territories for their dental program. But at the moment, our focus is making sure that we are getting our general practice GPs back on a sustainable footing so we can have a good primary health care in this country.
JOURNALIST: And just lastly, in regards to the dental proposal, has that been costed? Has that been looked at by anyone in the Government?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I understand that there is aspiration for dental to be included in Medicare. We make our investment through the child dental scheme, and, of course, also supporting states and territories provide their public dental scheme as well.