❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Disability Services regarding funding for incontinence aids in WA, highlighting the lack of state support compared to other states and the inadequacy of Commonwealth assistance. The Minister acknowledges the issue but declines to implement a state subsidy, instead advocating for a review of the Commonwealth scheme.
AnsweredQoN 1442Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
INCONTINENCE AIDS, FUNDING
With regard to the funding of incontinence aids in Western Australia and in view of increasing funding for disability services announced in the 2002 budget, I ask - (1) Is the minister aware that the Commonwealth Government provides assistance of up to $460 per person per annum through the continence aids assistance scheme towards the cost of incontinence aids for people aged between 16 and 64 who have permanent incontinence due to permanent disability? (2) Is the minister also aware that the cost of these products far exceeds the subsidy offered to permanently disabled people? (3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
With regard to the funding of incontinence aids in Western Australia and in view of increasing funding for disability services announced in the 2002 budget, I ask - (1) Is the minister aware that the Commonwealth Government provides assistance of up to $460 per person per annum through the continence aids assistance scheme towards the cost of incontinence aids for people aged between 16 and 64 who have permanent incontinence due to permanent disability? (2) Is the minister also aware that the cost of these products far exceeds the subsidy offered to permanently disabled people? (3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(1) Is the minister aware that the Commonwealth Government provides assistance of up to $460 per person per annum through the continence aids assistance scheme towards the cost of incontinence aids for people aged between 16 and 64 who have permanent incontinence due to permanent disability? (2) Is the minister also aware that the cost of these products far exceeds the subsidy offered to permanently disabled people? (3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(2) Is the minister also aware that the cost of these products far exceeds the subsidy offered to permanently disabled people? (3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(1) Is the minister aware that the Commonwealth Government provides assistance of up to $460 per person per annum through the continence aids assistance scheme towards the cost of incontinence aids for people aged between 16 and 64 who have permanent incontinence due to permanent disability? (2) Is the minister also aware that the cost of these products far exceeds the subsidy offered to permanently disabled people? (3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(2) Is the minister also aware that the cost of these products far exceeds the subsidy offered to permanently disabled people? (3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(3) If yes to (2), is the minister aware that Western Australia is the only State whose State Government does not provide further assistance to permanently disabled people to top up the commonwealth government scheme for the purchase of incontinence products? (4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(4) If yes to (3), will the minister recommend the implementation of a state government subsidy scheme? (5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(5) If no to (4), how does the minister propose that the 1 587 permanently disabled people in Western Australia who access the commonwealth subsidy fund their ongoing requirement for incontinence products? (6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(6) Will the minister consider implementing a scheme to provide for permanently disabled people over the age of 64 who currently do not receive any assistance whatsoever? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(1)-(3) Yes. (4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(4) No. (5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(5) The Commonwealth Government needs to review the annual subsidy payment levels provided by the continence aids assistance scheme. The Department of Health and the Disability Services Commission have prepared a submission on this issue to be placed on the agenda of the Australian health ministers’ conference. (6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
(6) This matter should be considered in the context of any review of the eligibility criteria of the continence aids assistance scheme and the responsibilities of the commonwealth Department for Health and Ageing.
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