❓ WA Disability Services Minister expresses disappointment with the Commonwealth's handling of disability funding negotiations, highlighting a lack of response to WA's funding offer and unmet commitments regarding aged carers support.
AnsweredQoN 377Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COMMONWEALTH STATE/TERRITORY DISABILITY AGREEMENT
Can the minister inform the house of the current status of negotiations regarding the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement? Ms S.M. McHALE
Can the minister inform the house of the current status of negotiations regarding the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Southern River for his question. This morning I paid tribute to Barry MacKinnon for his leadership of the Disability Services Commission over the past 13 years. At the function on Monday, Barry acknowledged the efforts of both Liberal and Labor state governments during his leadership. He particularly congratulated the state Labor effort over the past five years. However, in contrast he lamented the parlous effort of the commonwealth government in response to the needs of people with disabilities. It is very interesting that a statesman such as Barry MacKinnon would pass observations on the appalling efforts of the commonwealth government. That is the state of negotiations. They are very disappointing. We entered into negotiations in good faith late last year and in earnest in March this year. I was hopeful that the commonwealth would genuinely work with the states and territories to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Throughout the process, Western Australia has done what the commonwealth has asked. Indeed, on 27 June we submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for matching funding. We put on the table an offer of $55 million in new money recurrent, which would have accumulated to $156 million. We put that on the table before the federal minister unilaterally withdrew the offer to the other states. We reaffirmed this offer in writing on 27 July. I must inform members that despite continual phone calls, we are still waiting for a response from the commonwealth government. On 25 July, the commonwealth minister gave a commitment to all jurisdictions that he would provide written advice about the ageing carers initiative. We have commended that $1.7 billion disability assistance program, but we are still waiting for a response. The minister gave a commitment that he would inform jurisdictions of how this would be working by 31 July. The commonwealth government has imposed arbitrary deadlines on states and territories after the fact and has coupled this with making announcements on the run. This is not what Western Australia wants or what people with disabilities want. We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I thank the member for Southern River for his question. This morning I paid tribute to Barry MacKinnon for his leadership of the Disability Services Commission over the past 13 years. At the function on Monday, Barry acknowledged the efforts of both Liberal and Labor state governments during his leadership. He particularly congratulated the state Labor effort over the past five years. However, in contrast he lamented the parlous effort of the commonwealth government in response to the needs of people with disabilities. It is very interesting that a statesman such as Barry MacKinnon would pass observations on the appalling efforts of the commonwealth government. That is the state of negotiations. They are very disappointing. We entered into negotiations in good faith late last year and in earnest in March this year. I was hopeful that the commonwealth would genuinely work with the states and territories to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Throughout the process, Western Australia has done what the commonwealth has asked. Indeed, on 27 June we submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for matching funding. We put on the table an offer of $55 million in new money recurrent, which would have accumulated to $156 million. We put that on the table before the federal minister unilaterally withdrew the offer to the other states. We reaffirmed this offer in writing on 27 July. I must inform members that despite continual phone calls, we are still waiting for a response from the commonwealth government. On 25 July, the commonwealth minister gave a commitment to all jurisdictions that he would provide written advice about the ageing carers initiative. We have commended that $1.7 billion disability assistance program, but we are still waiting for a response. The minister gave a commitment that he would inform jurisdictions of how this would be working by 31 July. The commonwealth government has imposed arbitrary deadlines on states and territories after the fact and has coupled this with making announcements on the run. This is not what Western Australia wants or what people with disabilities want. We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
I thank the member for Southern River for his question. This morning I paid tribute to Barry MacKinnon for his leadership of the Disability Services Commission over the past 13 years. At the function on Monday, Barry acknowledged the efforts of both Liberal and Labor state governments during his leadership. He particularly congratulated the state Labor effort over the past five years. However, in contrast he lamented the parlous effort of the commonwealth government in response to the needs of people with disabilities. It is very interesting that a statesman such as Barry MacKinnon would pass observations on the appalling efforts of the commonwealth government. That is the state of negotiations. They are very disappointing. We entered into negotiations in good faith late last year and in earnest in March this year. I was hopeful that the commonwealth would genuinely work with the states and territories to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Throughout the process, Western Australia has done what the commonwealth has asked. Indeed, on 27 June we submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for matching funding. We put on the table an offer of $55 million in new money recurrent, which would have accumulated to $156 million. We put that on the table before the federal minister unilaterally withdrew the offer to the other states. We reaffirmed this offer in writing on 27 July. I must inform members that despite continual phone calls, we are still waiting for a response from the commonwealth government. On 25 July, the commonwealth minister gave a commitment to all jurisdictions that he would provide written advice about the ageing carers initiative. We have commended that $1.7 billion disability assistance program, but we are still waiting for a response. The minister gave a commitment that he would inform jurisdictions of how this would be working by 31 July. The commonwealth government has imposed arbitrary deadlines on states and territories after the fact and has coupled this with making announcements on the run. This is not what Western Australia wants or what people with disabilities want. We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
We entered into negotiations in good faith late last year and in earnest in March this year. I was hopeful that the commonwealth would genuinely work with the states and territories to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Throughout the process, Western Australia has done what the commonwealth has asked. Indeed, on 27 June we submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for matching funding. We put on the table an offer of $55 million in new money recurrent, which would have accumulated to $156 million. We put that on the table before the federal minister unilaterally withdrew the offer to the other states. We reaffirmed this offer in writing on 27 July. I must inform members that despite continual phone calls, we are still waiting for a response from the commonwealth government. On 25 July, the commonwealth minister gave a commitment to all jurisdictions that he would provide written advice about the ageing carers initiative. We have commended that $1.7 billion disability assistance program, but we are still waiting for a response. The minister gave a commitment that he would inform jurisdictions of how this would be working by 31 July. The commonwealth government has imposed arbitrary deadlines on states and territories after the fact and has coupled this with making announcements on the run. This is not what Western Australia wants or what people with disabilities want. We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: I thank the member for Southern River for his question. This morning I paid tribute to Barry MacKinnon for his leadership of the Disability Services Commission over the past 13 years. At the function on Monday, Barry acknowledged the efforts of both Liberal and Labor state governments during his leadership. He particularly congratulated the state Labor effort over the past five years. However, in contrast he lamented the parlous effort of the commonwealth government in response to the needs of people with disabilities. It is very interesting that a statesman such as Barry MacKinnon would pass observations on the appalling efforts of the commonwealth government. That is the state of negotiations. They are very disappointing. We entered into negotiations in good faith late last year and in earnest in March this year. I was hopeful that the commonwealth would genuinely work with the states and territories to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Throughout the process, Western Australia has done what the commonwealth has asked. Indeed, on 27 June we submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for matching funding. We put on the table an offer of $55 million in new money recurrent, which would have accumulated to $156 million. We put that on the table before the federal minister unilaterally withdrew the offer to the other states. We reaffirmed this offer in writing on 27 July. I must inform members that despite continual phone calls, we are still waiting for a response from the commonwealth government. On 25 July, the commonwealth minister gave a commitment to all jurisdictions that he would provide written advice about the ageing carers initiative. We have commended that $1.7 billion disability assistance program, but we are still waiting for a response. The minister gave a commitment that he would inform jurisdictions of how this would be working by 31 July. The commonwealth government has imposed arbitrary deadlines on states and territories after the fact and has coupled this with making announcements on the run. This is not what Western Australia wants or what people with disabilities want. We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
I thank the member for Southern River for his question. This morning I paid tribute to Barry MacKinnon for his leadership of the Disability Services Commission over the past 13 years. At the function on Monday, Barry acknowledged the efforts of both Liberal and Labor state governments during his leadership. He particularly congratulated the state Labor effort over the past five years. However, in contrast he lamented the parlous effort of the commonwealth government in response to the needs of people with disabilities. It is very interesting that a statesman such as Barry MacKinnon would pass observations on the appalling efforts of the commonwealth government. That is the state of negotiations. They are very disappointing. We entered into negotiations in good faith late last year and in earnest in March this year. I was hopeful that the commonwealth would genuinely work with the states and territories to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Throughout the process, Western Australia has done what the commonwealth has asked. Indeed, on 27 June we submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for matching funding. We put on the table an offer of $55 million in new money recurrent, which would have accumulated to $156 million. We put that on the table before the federal minister unilaterally withdrew the offer to the other states. We reaffirmed this offer in writing on 27 July. I must inform members that despite continual phone calls, we are still waiting for a response from the commonwealth government. On 25 July, the commonwealth minister gave a commitment to all jurisdictions that he would provide written advice about the ageing carers initiative. We have commended that $1.7 billion disability assistance program, but we are still waiting for a response. The minister gave a commitment that he would inform jurisdictions of how this would be working by 31 July. The commonwealth government has imposed arbitrary deadlines on states and territories after the fact and has coupled this with making announcements on the run. This is not what Western Australia wants or what people with disabilities want. We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
We entered into negotiations in good faith late last year and in earnest in March this year. I was hopeful that the commonwealth would genuinely work with the states and territories to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Throughout the process, Western Australia has done what the commonwealth has asked. Indeed, on 27 June we submitted a bid to the commonwealth government for matching funding. We put on the table an offer of $55 million in new money recurrent, which would have accumulated to $156 million. We put that on the table before the federal minister unilaterally withdrew the offer to the other states. We reaffirmed this offer in writing on 27 July. I must inform members that despite continual phone calls, we are still waiting for a response from the commonwealth government. On 25 July, the commonwealth minister gave a commitment to all jurisdictions that he would provide written advice about the ageing carers initiative. We have commended that $1.7 billion disability assistance program, but we are still waiting for a response. The minister gave a commitment that he would inform jurisdictions of how this would be working by 31 July. The commonwealth government has imposed arbitrary deadlines on states and territories after the fact and has coupled this with making announcements on the run. This is not what Western Australia wants or what people with disabilities want. We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
We have a very clear and unambiguous plan to address unmet need and growth. We put an offer on the table of $55 million. That has not yet been responded to. That is not acceptable to people with disabilities, who have been ignored by the commonwealth government in all but the critical months leading up to the federal election. The Prime Minister thinks that people with disabilities can be bought off with a meagre $1 000 and a few empty promises. That is not what people with disabilities want. We need a response to our matching funding, we need details of how the commonwealth will purportedly support aged carers and we need a genuine commitment from the commonwealth government rather than the empty promises that we have had so far.
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