Dr. Woollard asks about the feasibility study for a companion card for disabled people. Minister McHale expresses support but cites cost and eligibility concerns, promising to provide a copy of the report after analysis.

AnsweredQoN 289Legislative Assembly
Asked
1 June 2004
Portfolio
Disability Services

QuestionView source ↗

I understand that a feasibility study on the introduction of a companion card for disabled people in Western Australia has been completed and is currently with the minister. (1) When will the minister table this document? (2) Will the study be made public; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister undertake to immediately introduce the card if the study shows that such a system is warranted in Western Australia? (4) If not, why not? Ms S.M. McHALE

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(4) I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the concept of a companion card. I assume the member is referring to an internal document of the Disability Services Commission, which I commissioned in November last year. The document analyses the Victorian scheme, which was introduced late 2003, and looks at the likely costs and possible eligibility criteria. I am still looking at the report, but I am happy to provide the member for Alfred Cove with a copy when my analysis is complete. There are cost and eligibility issues that we need to work through. However, I am very supportive of such a card. Indeed, it would be a good strategy to meet my vision that Perth and Western Australia become the most accessible city and State in the nation. Indeed, Perth and Western Australia are moving a long way towards becoming the most accessible city and State in Australia. I thank the member for her interest. As I said, cost and eligibility matters must be considered. The sector will want me to pursue this issue along with a number of other initiatives that it wants me to look at and develop over the coming years.
(1) When will the minister table this document? (2) Will the study be made public; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister undertake to immediately introduce the card if the study shows that such a system is warranted in Western Australia? (4) If not, why not? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the concept of a companion card. I assume the member is referring to an internal document of the Disability Services Commission, which I commissioned in November last year. The document analyses the Victorian scheme, which was introduced late 2003, and looks at the likely costs and possible eligibility criteria. I am still looking at the report, but I am happy to provide the member for Alfred Cove with a copy when my analysis is complete. There are cost and eligibility issues that we need to work through. However, I am very supportive of such a card. Indeed, it would be a good strategy to meet my vision that Perth and Western Australia become the most accessible city and State in the nation. Indeed, Perth and Western Australia are moving a long way towards becoming the most accessible city and State in Australia. I thank the member for her interest. As I said, cost and eligibility matters must be considered. The sector will want me to pursue this issue along with a number of other initiatives that it wants me to look at and develop over the coming years.
(2) Will the study be made public; and, if not, why not? (3) Will the minister undertake to immediately introduce the card if the study shows that such a system is warranted in Western Australia? (4) If not, why not? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the concept of a companion card. I assume the member is referring to an internal document of the Disability Services Commission, which I commissioned in November last year. The document analyses the Victorian scheme, which was introduced late 2003, and looks at the likely costs and possible eligibility criteria. I am still looking at the report, but I am happy to provide the member for Alfred Cove with a copy when my analysis is complete. There are cost and eligibility issues that we need to work through. However, I am very supportive of such a card. Indeed, it would be a good strategy to meet my vision that Perth and Western Australia become the most accessible city and State in the nation. Indeed, Perth and Western Australia are moving a long way towards becoming the most accessible city and State in Australia. I thank the member for her interest. As I said, cost and eligibility matters must be considered. The sector will want me to pursue this issue along with a number of other initiatives that it wants me to look at and develop over the coming years.
(3) Will the minister undertake to immediately introduce the card if the study shows that such a system is warranted in Western Australia? (4) If not, why not? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the concept of a companion card. I assume the member is referring to an internal document of the Disability Services Commission, which I commissioned in November last year. The document analyses the Victorian scheme, which was introduced late 2003, and looks at the likely costs and possible eligibility criteria. I am still looking at the report, but I am happy to provide the member for Alfred Cove with a copy when my analysis is complete. There are cost and eligibility issues that we need to work through. However, I am very supportive of such a card. Indeed, it would be a good strategy to meet my vision that Perth and Western Australia become the most accessible city and State in the nation. Indeed, Perth and Western Australia are moving a long way towards becoming the most accessible city and State in Australia. I thank the member for her interest. As I said, cost and eligibility matters must be considered. The sector will want me to pursue this issue along with a number of other initiatives that it wants me to look at and develop over the coming years.
(4) If not, why not? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the concept of a companion card. I assume the member is referring to an internal document of the Disability Services Commission, which I commissioned in November last year. The document analyses the Victorian scheme, which was introduced late 2003, and looks at the likely costs and possible eligibility criteria. I am still looking at the report, but I am happy to provide the member for Alfred Cove with a copy when my analysis is complete. There are cost and eligibility issues that we need to work through. However, I am very supportive of such a card. Indeed, it would be a good strategy to meet my vision that Perth and Western Australia become the most accessible city and State in the nation. Indeed, Perth and Western Australia are moving a long way towards becoming the most accessible city and State in Australia. I thank the member for her interest. As I said, cost and eligibility matters must be considered. The sector will want me to pursue this issue along with a number of other initiatives that it wants me to look at and develop over the coming years.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the concept of a companion card. I assume the member is referring to an internal document of the Disability Services Commission, which I commissioned in November last year. The document analyses the Victorian scheme, which was introduced late 2003, and looks at the likely costs and possible eligibility criteria. I am still looking at the report, but I am happy to provide the member for Alfred Cove with a copy when my analysis is complete. There are cost and eligibility issues that we need to work through. However, I am very supportive of such a card. Indeed, it would be a good strategy to meet my vision that Perth and Western Australia become the most accessible city and State in the nation. Indeed, Perth and Western Australia are moving a long way towards becoming the most accessible city and State in Australia. I thank the member for her interest. As I said, cost and eligibility matters must be considered. The sector will want me to pursue this issue along with a number of other initiatives that it wants me to look at and develop over the coming years.
(1)-(4) I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the concept of a companion card. I assume the member is referring to an internal document of the Disability Services Commission, which I commissioned in November last year. The document analyses the Victorian scheme, which was introduced late 2003, and looks at the likely costs and possible eligibility criteria. I am still looking at the report, but I am happy to provide the member for Alfred Cove with a copy when my analysis is complete. There are cost and eligibility issues that we need to work through. However, I am very supportive of such a card. Indeed, it would be a good strategy to meet my vision that Perth and Western Australia become the most accessible city and State in the nation. Indeed, Perth and Western Australia are moving a long way towards becoming the most accessible city and State in Australia. I thank the member for her interest. As I said, cost and eligibility matters must be considered. The sector will want me to pursue this issue along with a number of other initiatives that it wants me to look at and develop over the coming years.

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