Page 1093 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 2013
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Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (11.12): I thank Dr Bourke for bringing this motion on today. I have listened with keen interest to the contributions of all. If we look at the national disability insurance scheme, there is a community aspiration to support the transformation of the lives of people with a disability in our community, their families and carers. Last year the ACT, along with four states, agreed with the commonwealth government to become a launch site for the NDIS.
In addition to people who have intellectual or developmental disability, the NDIS will be available to those born with a physical disability. It will be available to those with a disability from an accident and it will be available to people with a psychosocial disability. This is a national reform that will help smooth out the inequities that people with a disability now experience, inequities based on age, how they acquired their disability or based on where they live. The NDIS provides equity so that people with a disability will receive the care and support they need over their lifetime, regardless of where they live.
The NDIS will not only support those in our community who most need our support; it will contribute to the whole community by assisting those people with a disability to enter or get back into the workforce. It will also help transform the lives of families and of carers of people with a disability who are at risk of being burnt out caring for a loved one by providing funding for support and respite services.
From July of 2014, eligible ACT residents will begin to transfer to the NDIS. We expect 2,500 Canberrans with disability and enduring psychosocial disability will begin to receive support from the NDIS during 2014-15. The number of people supported by the NDIS is likely to increase to approximately 5,000 by June 2016.
The ACT government, in partnership with the commonwealth, is committed to investing in the NDIS. From July of this year we will invest collectively $10.6 million to respond to the demands for disability and mental health services that we know exist today. From July of this year, eligible ACT residents with a disability or mental health illness will be able to apply for one-off grants to improve their quality of life. These grants may be for aids and equipment or for other services that reduce the impact of their disability, improve their independence and increase participation in community activity. There will be two rounds of grants: one in July and one in September of this year. The commonwealth has committed a further $12 million for the ACT in sector preparation and workforce development.
If we look at the recent Like Canberra campaign, we see that among the top 100 things that people like about Canberra is that we are an engaged and educated populace with progressive views and a truly open attitude to diversity, and that we have a high standard of living and quality of life. That was put to a vote of 135,000 Canberrans.
Madam Acting Speaker, for some members of our community their standard of living has not been as high as it should. Despite being an engaged and educated people, we have a need to do more for those in our community who have a disability. The time for improvement is now. People with a disability, their families and their carers have
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