❓ The Minister for Disability Services outlines initiatives to address unmet needs for people with disabilities, highlighting increased state funding and criticizing the Commonwealth's limited contribution. The response also addresses a budget misinterpretation by the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 698Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister advise the House of the initiatives being undertaken to address the unmet need for accommodation and other critical services for people with disabilities, and inform members what role the Commonwealth is playing in assisting to resolve this longstanding challenge? An opposition member interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
I will respond to that interjection because I want to make it clear that Hon Ian Taylor’s original analysis of the 2003-04 budget was wrong. He said that an additional $1.4 million had been allocated for those purposes. Let me make it very clear that an additional $12.3 million has been allocated. Members must be made aware that last Saturday Hon Ian Taylor indicated that the budget was a positive step towards dealing with the issues of unmet need and growth in the disability sector. I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
An opposition member interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I will respond to that interjection because I want to make it clear that Hon Ian Taylor’s original analysis of the 2003-04 budget was wrong. He said that an additional $1.4 million had been allocated for those purposes. Let me make it very clear that an additional $12.3 million has been allocated. Members must be made aware that last Saturday Hon Ian Taylor indicated that the budget was a positive step towards dealing with the issues of unmet need and growth in the disability sector. I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I will respond to that interjection because I want to make it clear that Hon Ian Taylor’s original analysis of the 2003-04 budget was wrong. He said that an additional $1.4 million had been allocated for those purposes. Let me make it very clear that an additional $12.3 million has been allocated. Members must be made aware that last Saturday Hon Ian Taylor indicated that the budget was a positive step towards dealing with the issues of unmet need and growth in the disability sector. I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
I will respond to that interjection because I want to make it clear that Hon Ian Taylor’s original analysis of the 2003-04 budget was wrong. He said that an additional $1.4 million had been allocated for those purposes. Let me make it very clear that an additional $12.3 million has been allocated. Members must be made aware that last Saturday Hon Ian Taylor indicated that the budget was a positive step towards dealing with the issues of unmet need and growth in the disability sector. I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
An opposition member interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I will respond to that interjection because I want to make it clear that Hon Ian Taylor’s original analysis of the 2003-04 budget was wrong. He said that an additional $1.4 million had been allocated for those purposes. Let me make it very clear that an additional $12.3 million has been allocated. Members must be made aware that last Saturday Hon Ian Taylor indicated that the budget was a positive step towards dealing with the issues of unmet need and growth in the disability sector. I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I will respond to that interjection because I want to make it clear that Hon Ian Taylor’s original analysis of the 2003-04 budget was wrong. He said that an additional $1.4 million had been allocated for those purposes. Let me make it very clear that an additional $12.3 million has been allocated. Members must be made aware that last Saturday Hon Ian Taylor indicated that the budget was a positive step towards dealing with the issues of unmet need and growth in the disability sector. I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
I will respond to that interjection because I want to make it clear that Hon Ian Taylor’s original analysis of the 2003-04 budget was wrong. He said that an additional $1.4 million had been allocated for those purposes. Let me make it very clear that an additional $12.3 million has been allocated. Members must be made aware that last Saturday Hon Ian Taylor indicated that the budget was a positive step towards dealing with the issues of unmet need and growth in the disability sector. I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
I thank the member for Riverton for his question. Significant steps are being taken in this budget to provide accommodation support and other necessary support services to more people. As the Treasurer and I have said, Western Australians are investing $210.5 million in disability services. This Government has doubled the coalition Government’s funding commitment for disability accommodation services, and it has doubled the number of people the coalition Government targeted for accommodation support. This year’s budget provides funding for 80 people whereas the coalition Government’s second business plan provided funding for half that number of people. In addition, through good management, the management of vacancies and support for organisations providing accommodation, it is anticipated that we will support 103 people this financial year. That will make inroads into the unmet needs in a very considered, systematic way. We will meet the first year’s target of the accommodation blueprint. The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
The member for Riverton also asked what the Commonwealth is doing. The Commonwealth is doing very little. Its efforts to renegotiate the agreement have been shamefully pathetic. State funding for disability services over the life of the next agreement will increase by 32 per cent, which is an average of 6.4 per cent each year. The projected increase in state funding is $60 million compared with $8.46 million from the Commonwealth. On the one hand, the State Government is systematically working with the sector to manage the unmet needs and the growth of the industry. On the other hand, the Commonwealth Government repeatedly refuses to accept its responsibility and work with the States. The member for Warren-Blackwood knows all too well about the struggles that he had in previous years. The commonwealth minister is being as intransigent at ever. Although the State Government has taken its responsibility seriously by taking some positive steps, it has been completely hindered by the Commonwealth’s approach to the disability sector. Our record stands on its own.
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