Page 842 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 22 March 2017
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model in preparation for the transition to the NDIS, SHOUT revised their request for funding to $110,000.
The Canberra Liberals well understand the important role of SHOUT and other similar organisations. That is why, in the lead-up to the 2016 election, we committed $600,000 over three years to ensure they had ongoing financial security and certainty in the years leading up to full NDIS implementation. In comparison to other spending priorities of this government, it just does not add up.
This is the same government that has found millions of dollars for failed container villages, rusty welcome signs, beach volleyball courts and a gold-plated tram with a gold-plated package for the head of the project. This is the same government that cannot now find $110,000 for children with cancer, for families with brain injured children, for people with Down syndrome and motor neurone disease, for cancer support groups. It is the same government that yesterday had its Deputy Chief Minister saying:
… we will not be forsaking the people in our community. We will not be ignoring our roles as leaders to bring the voices of some of the lowest paid young women and men in our community—our friends, their kids, people who live in our community …
Are the Canberrans who live with a disability or a health-related condition not worth this type of passionate response from the government? Sadly, during the preparations for this motion, SHOUT made the decision to issue a final public announcement to the effect that unless funding is committed urgently it will close its doors on 31 May. Not only is this a tragic outcome for Canberra, it is a shameful indictment of this government and where its priorities lie. It is tragic for SHOUT, its board, its members and the vulnerable Canberrans it supports. It is tragic for bodies like Bosom Buddies, motor neurone disease, the thyroid support group and ACT Down Syndrome. These are just some of the people the ACT government has said are not important.
What this government has said to these groups who connect with hundreds of families and impact thousands of people is: you are not as important as a beach volleyball court; you are not as important as the millions of dollars spent to secure AFL games and cricket matches at Manuka Oval. It is also a tragic indicator for many other groups that face similar abandonment because they do not fit the new funding model. And how many more are to follow? Does the ACT government know? Does it care?
One has to ask why the ACT government, in the four or more years it has been in negotiations over the rollout of the NDIS, did not consider providing ongoing funding for such organisations, organisations that are now falling through the cracks. Have the ministers for health and disability met with the thousands of Canberrans that receive vital support from SHOUT and its member groups and affiliates? Have the ministers had the courage to tell thousands of Canberrans face to face that they are not worth supporting?
During the annual reports hearings, the Community Services Directorate spoke with some passion about their community services industry strategy, which took some
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