Page 3123 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 November 1992

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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION ON NOTICE NO. 311

Intellectual Disability Services - Accommodation Charges

Ms Carnell - asked the Minister for Housing and Community Services -

In relation to the recent increase in full time Intellectual Disability Service (IDS) accommodation charges, from $17.31 to $20.00 per night

(1) What factors were considered in determining this increase.

(2) What consultation was undertaken before

deciding on this increase.

(3) If the increase in accommodation charges reflects increased operating costs, can the Minister provide details of where, how and why these increases occurred.

(4) What plans have been made to reduce costs, rather than raising charges to compensate for increased operating costs.

Mr Connolly - the answer to the members question is as follows:

(1) All fees and charges were reviewed to ensure their consistency with principles of cost recovery, relativities with charges in other States and the maintenance of real value. Fees were generally below those applying in other states and a decision was taken to align fees with those state practices.

(2) No consultation was undertaken.

(3) Expenditure on disability services was $10.4m in

1990-91 and $10.9m in 1991-92, with further

increases projected for 1992-93 reflecting increases

in salaries and price adjustments in operating costs

such as rent, food, fuel, light, power etc. IDS

recovers about 10% of the total cost of

providing services through fees.

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