Page 1245 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
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Decisions taken by this government about therapy and early intervention services are consistent with what is happening around the country. Each state and territory is seeking to grow the disability sector. Tasmania has outsourced its services. Queensland is considering transferring its services over a five-year period. Western Australia supports a competitive model but, because of its unique geography and population, the state will respond where there is no viable service. The South Australian government has a trial site but has not made a formal announcement about services since its recent election, as I understand it. New South Wales has said it will divest all government-run services.
I am pleased to see that the approach we have adopted has the full support of the ACT Liberal opposition. Indeed, Mr Wall has described it as Liberal policy, and I quote: “Certainly the principle of phasing out of government services responsibility for service provision would be Canberra Liberal policy.”
In considering the withdrawal of government therapy and specialist disability services, we recognised that the NDIS is based on a person-centred system. The NDIS is a catalyst for nationwide change. This does not mean that the current model in the ACT has failed or is broken, but there is potential for greater choice and control of services for people with a disability under the NDIS. The principle underlying the NDIS is that services need to be person centred. This means that the provision of care places a person at the centre and considers the needs of their carers, guardians and families.
The services provided by Therapy ACT in the early intervention programs provided through ETD could be described as available on a rationed basis. The government has chosen to make changes so that the current structures and funding are remodelled to align with the NDIS principles of reasonable and necessary support and choice and control.
Meeting the needs of people with a disability is best achieved through a growing and diverse non-government sector where the sector offers a wide range of choices, services and innovation. Let me reiterate the reasons why we need to align to the NDIS. The government is the single largest provider of therapy services in the ACT. Having a dominant government provider impedes innovation and competition of disability and therapy services. What we want in Canberra is to see the growth and expansion of current and new service providers. We want to see flexibility and diversity. We want to see people with disability purchasing the services when they want them.
The commencement of the NDIS trial will triple the funding available for disability supports and services by 2019. By withdrawing from government-managed services and investing strongly in the disability sector, we will increase service options for people with a disability.
In terms of services and jobs, the growth of the non-government sector means that experienced disability and therapy staff will be highly valued by service providers. We have already commenced conversations with non-government community-based service providers about their interest in working in the ACT.
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