ACT Government Fails People With Disabilities

Mr Jon Stanhope, the ACT Disabilities Minister, is failing people with disabilities in the ACT by choosing to play politics rather than committing to a new five year disability agreement.

The Commonwealth has offered an extra $125 million over five years to the States and Territories.

This offer of extra money is additional to all of the funding provided under the last Agreement including the extra “unmet need” funding.

The Commonwealth is offering the States $2.8 billion over the next five years. This compares with the $1.9 billion paid to them under the old Agreement.

Our offer of extra funding has been on the table since June 28, 2002.

The disability sector desperately needs this money and the Commonwealth wants them to have it. The States and Territories are now holding the funding up.

I have asked the States and Territories, and Mr Stanhope as the responsible ACT minister, to respond with commitments over five years of what the States and Territories are willing to spend.

I have received no reply to that request.

I want this extra money to flow quickly to the services for people with disabilities who are in need.

Mr Stanhope should now stop playing politics. He must tell the disability sector how much money the ACT will commit and sign a new Agreement that will provide funding certainty for five years.