Page 3253 - Week 11 - Thursday, 13 September 1990
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are practical measures which demonstrate our commitment to the improvement of human rights and to genuine community consultation. Unlike the women's budget last year by the Leader of the Opposition, when we say we are going to do something, the money is there for it.
Mr Speaker, promoting the independence of people with disabilities and providing services in the least restrictive manner are principles underlining other program expenditures in the budget for those with disabilities. We have provided for a 20 per cent increase under the home and community care program. About $1.2m will be available to create new and expanded home based services for aged persons and younger people with disabilities. In addition, we have provided $460,000 for new respite care services, accommodation and support needs for people with an intellectual disability. We will be consulting with parents - as we already are - advocates, and people with a disability, to develop these services. I met with the disability advisory group earlier this week. They were formed under the previous Government but never got to meet their Minister.
The taxi scheme has been restructured, and there is no longer a waiting list for users. The services of the Independent Living Centre are being upgraded. We have also started to prepare a five-year strategic plan for the intellectual disability services which will guide the development and improvement of client services. Again, I am indebted to the assistance of my colleague, Carmel Maher, for her visits and her assistance in this area.
Many of these initiatives would not have been possible if we had not decided to abolish the Community Development Fund. I stress this, Mr Speaker. This year's budget increases expenditure on recurrent community initiatives by over $2.6m, and that puts the lie to claims made that the abolition of the fund was dubious and would be to the detriment of the community interest. These are claims the Leader of the Opposition just made in the house.
I have also announced that there will be a wide sweeping review of the community services grants program, and I will also appoint a ministerial advisory committee to advise me on priority areas under the program. Community organisations have been unhappy with the CDF process for many years. The budget has provided funds for this review which will enable gaps in services to be identified and will assist the community to consider ways in which we can more effectively meet community needs and the objectives of the program.
There have been suggestions that sport is a loser from this year's budget. This is not correct. The grants to sporting bodies were exempted from the 4 per cent savings target which we sought to achieve in the budget process. The estimates for the budget include about $3.7m, including a continuation of the grants, the Bruce Stadium Trust
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