Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1862 ..

In 2001 the Government also committed to spend $500,000 on Individual Support Package arrangements or similar means of assistance, has this commitment been met. If so, where in the Budget was this funded from. Please provide supporting documentation about how the commitment has been met. If the commitment has not been met, please explain why;

In 2001 the Government committed to spending $40,000 over two years through a pilot program offering grants of up to $2,000 to businesses to help identify and remedy blackspots where people with a disability experience difficulty in gaining access. Was funding allocated in the 2002-03 Budget to cater for this commitment, if so, please point to where the amount can be found in the Budget Papers;

What work, if any, has been completed on the commitment mentioned in (3) above, please provide supporting documentation. If no work has been completed on this commitment, why is that so and when will it be undertaken.

Mr Wood: The answer to the member's question is as follows:

Quality Services

Quality service delivery is a key priority area in the 'Steps to Reform' strategy. A working group has been established to examine issues around quality service provision, consisting of people with disabilities, carers and families, service providers and government representatives.

$431,000 per annum has been provided directly to Disability organisations from 2002-03 onwards to meet award related increases in costs. This allocation is part of the $2.8 million in 2002/03 and has meant that there have been no reductions in service levels relating to award related wage increases. Additional funding has also been provided on a whole of Government basis in the 2003/04 budget for increased costs associated with recent SACS Award decisions. A portion of this funding will be provided to Disability service providers.

Further details can be found at page 161, 2002-03 Budget Paper No. 3, and page 168, 2003-04 Budget Paper No. 3.

This Government has also provided assistance to non-government agencies in reducing the cost of obtaining public liability insurance through the public liability group insurance scheme available through the ACT Treasury Public Liability Insurance Risk Advisory website.

These initiatives have addressed the Governments commitment in this area.

Funding for individuals with disabilities

In addition to the $4.99 million per annum already provided for individualised funding, the government committed an additional $1 million per annum in the 2002/03 budget. In addition to this, additional funding for the support of individuals was allocated in the 2003/04 budget amounting to $0.6 million in 2003/04 and rising to $1.5 million per annum from 2006/07. The total funding committed to individuals in 2006/07 will exceed $7.4 million per annum.

Further details can be found at page 145 of 2002-03 Budget Paper No. 3 and page 167 of 2003-04 Budget Paper No. 3.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .