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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1398 ..

MR STEFANIAK: In relation to Ms McRae's question, if she looks at her budget papers she will see that we have budgeted on a reduction of Commonwealth funding of $1.772m, although I reiterate what I said: From our experience last year, it takes a few weeks after Federal budget day to work out exactly what they intend in dollar terms.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care) (3.25): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Government's response to Report No. 4 of the Standing Committee on Social Policy, entitled "Inquiry into the Commonwealth-Territory Disability Agreement", which was presented to the Assembly on 20 February 1997. I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank all the people who contributed to this inquiry. Firstly, I want to acknowledge members and the secretariat of the Social Policy Committee, who have put a great deal of time and work into producing this report. Many people with disabilities, their families, advocates and service providers also gave lots of time and energy to help ensure that good information was available to the committee.

It is particularly encouraging to see that the report's recommendations are very much in tune with the directions being taken by this Government. We have made a significant commitment in the ACT to improving services for people with disabilities. There is a range of specific 1997-98 ACT budget initiatives which will enable implementation of various report recommendations. These include $1m to establish a specialised behaviour support unit in a purpose built facility; $630,000 to fund the implementation of a substantial reform package in the ACT Community Care disability program; home and community care (HACC) growth funding of $472,000, making a total of $940,000 with Commonwealth and Territory contributions, with $87,000 to be used to establish effective complaints mechanisms through the Health Complaints Commissioner for people using disability and aged care services; and, very importantly, $50,000 for after-school and holiday programs for children with disabilities.

In recent years significant new funds have also been allocated to a number of individual support packages, new and innovative respite services, case management and brokerage. The ACT has also been involved in a range of national initiatives relating to disability service provision. Purchasing contracts have been established between the Department of Health and Community Care and disability service providers. A range of reforms have been implemented across government and non-government service provision.

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