Media Release by The Hon Larry Anthony MP

Extra $510m for unmet disability needs

Over the next two years an additional $510 million will be provided to help address unmet need for disability services, Federal Minister for Community Services, Larry Anthony announced today.

Mr Anthony made the announcement at the meeting of Ministers responsible for Disability Services in New Zealand, and noted that all levels of government have now contributed additional funds to help address unmet need for disability services.

“This will be the largest ever increase of new Commonwealth and State funds for disability services,” said Mr Anthony.

“The meeting resolved to develop a national framework to underpin future funding and administrative arrangements, and agreed to maintain the current base funding levels for disability services under a third Commonwealth-State Disability Agreement.”

Attached is the joint communique from today’s meeting.

JOINT COMMUNIQUE

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AND AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH, STATE AND TERRITORY GOVERNMENTS

MEETING OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISABILITY SERVICES

Hosted by New Zealand Minister for Disability Issues, Ruth Dyson

Australian and New Zealand Ministers share vision for people with disabilities

Australian and New Zealand Ministers responsible for disability services shared their vision for people with disabilities when they met today in Wellington.

New Zealand Minister for Disability Issues, Ruth Dyson, who chaired the meeting, welcomed the opportunity to meet with colleagues across the Tasman.

“There is a commitment at all levels of government in both countries to ensure that people with disabilities are able to participate fully in their communities. We have a lot to learn from each other. I am impressed by the goodwill of participants to share information, problems, strategies and successful initiatives.”

Ms Dyson tabled the draft discussion document for the New Zealand Disability Strategy, Making a World of Difference – Whakanui Orango. This document will be released at the end of August for public input, and will provide a blueprint for disability policy and services.

The Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers announced a number of key decisions affecting people with disabilities, including:

  • Development of a national framework to underpin future funding and administrative arrangements for disability services from 2002 through a third Commonwealth State Disability Agreement.
  • Affirmation of the commitment of Commonwealth, State and Territories to maintain the current base funding levels for disability services under a third CSDA, including the significant increased Commonwealth/State/Territory contributions to address unmet need in the last two years of the current agreement.
  • Agreement that State and Territory governments will work together to remove current barriers in order to assist people with disabilities to continue to receive support services when they move interstate.
  • Commitment to employment opportunities, including open employment, for people with high support needs.
  • Resolving to seek formalisation of the Disability Ministers meetings as a component of the Health and Community Services Ministerial Council.