Page 2662 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 11 August 2015
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… if a loaded, misinformed commentary is the only way of getting answers out of you and your directorate . I will continue to do so.
I think that is an appalling statement from a member opposite for people with a disability. He is prepared to give misinformation out to the community rather than being sensible, supportive and alert to 5,000 of our community who are transitioning to the NDIS. That is what we should be concentrating on, not the political argy-bargy where Mr Wall is prepared to continue to misinform this chamber and the community for his own ends.
As I said, this government has committed funding to the child development assessment and child development service. That will provide assessments and referrals to young people with developmental delay that need a diagnosis or a platform before they go to the NDIS. This government is also investing capital and recurrent funding. I want to remind everybody of the great work we are doing with the Ricky Stuart Foundation. This budget will see additional funds for the teen respite centre that will build on Kese, which we funded in last year’s budget. So that is two renewals of respite homes that will go through with the Ricky Stuart Foundation.
That builds on the work that we are doing with Glenn Keys, the ACT nominee for Australian of the Year, for project independence which will deliver new housing opportunity for people with a disability here in the ACT. There is a very strong interest in other states about that work, because it is a new and novel approach. I am very pleased that this ACT government and I and Glenn Keys, are piloting and really pushing that through. That will benefit people with a disability not only here in the ACT at Latham and Harrison but more broadly.
We have recently launched Involve, which is our next commitment to make sure people with a disability in our community are included, respected and have the regard of everyone else in this community. In 2015-16 we will focus on the priority areas of jobs and skills and housing; in 2016-17 we will focus on justice and accessible communities. I ask everybody to get involved in Involve, because it is the way we can provide a truly inclusive community across this city. I hope there would not be one person in this chamber that would speak against that absolutely high benchmark of making sure all in this community have respect and regard, have involvement, are able to live the life they choose to live and have opportunities for housing and employment. This is a good investment from this government.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Women and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Social Inclusion and Equality) (9.22): I rise to speak on the community services portfolio. The 2015 budget furthers the government’s strong and ongoing support for a community which gives everyone the chance to live a good life, to contribute, to be valued and to have a voice on the things that are important to them.
This commitment took an added emphasis in January, when the Chief Minister announced the social inclusion and equality portfolio. It has continued since as a
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