Men's help group loses funding | Northern Rivers News | Local News in Northern Rivers

The Federal Government has a lot to answer for, when the Council of Single Mothers and "THEIR" Children get some hefty funding in Victoria to present a history of the group ($18,000) and for socialising.
In the last round of CDSE funding for Lake Macquarie City Council, the Hunter Regional DIDS Committee asked for some funding to set up a DIDS Lake Macquarie. We got zip. We have had to use funding from Newcastle, Maitland and Anna Bay groups to get DIDS Lake Macquarie up and running. The situation is so bad that a percentage of funding the Hunter Groups get has to go back to national just to keep this NFP organisation, that is trying to reduce the 5 males to 1 female that suicide, afloat. The Male suicide rate is higher than the national road toll, the government is culpable in this.

Is that for real - 69,000 people living overseas getting $900 each as part of the economic stimulus package - that's over $60M hard working Aussie tax dollars being spent elsewhere and in the meantime, we can't fund hospitals, roads, basic infrastructure etc! If Lifeline and the like send troubled men to DIDS it must be working very well and it is just a b***dy shame it can't get a few miserable dollars out of a government seemingly losing the plot - what has our local federal MP for Page Janelle Saffin got to say, she's a member of this government?

Why is it that millions of dollars are routinely given to womens groups yet a mens help group such as this which does such great work is denied funding. I would suggest that if the male/female suicide rate of 5-1 was reversed there would be a national outcry of monumental proportions and this government would be pouring in enormous amounts of funding to address the situation.
When Mr rudd formed his workshops for his 20/20 vision for australia i believe that there was not a single mens group represented, yet several womens groups were. This despicable decision is just another slap in the face for one of the most marginalised and discriminated against sections of the australian community today [FATHERS], and shows exactly how much importance the present , mostly feminist dominated government REALLY places on means health and welfare.

Government pretends in equal rights for all religions and all races, but when it comes to equal rights for men and their offspring, it is a different matter. How is it that funding for women's groups and refuges has been constant and generous for over 30 years when men's groups have to plead like beggars? Non custodial parents (usually fathers) did not receive any stimulus package from the federal government, whilst the other parent got the kids and the money as well. Now even the groups supporting those forgotten men will fail if not supported by govenment. Funding should be equal for either gender, particularly in view of the terrible toll of suicides among males.

Not only are Aus citizens living overseas getting the stimulus package but anyone who placed an ITR and would be eligible but has died in the 2008/09 financial year will receive it. So whilst the only male suicide prevention group goes under dead people are getting the stimulus package, who says you cant take it with you, you can still earn it even after your dead.