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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 11 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 3384 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

I did mention earlier, when I talked about need, that approximately 75 people were seeking the provision of individual support packages. We have completed a review of the individual support packages program. The review focused on improving the direction and management of the program; improving access and the process of allocating resources; empowering clients; and achieving consistency in the charging of management fees. I was told today by people within the department that I can expect to see that review within the next week or two.

It seems to me, Mr Speaker, that there is a whole series of issues that go to the point of ensuring that we have the best possible care for people with disabilities. But it is always underlined by having adequate funding, which is why once again I call on members to consider, when they are dealing with the issue of ACTEW, how we are going to provide money for this sort of issue to be able to provide for people who are genuinely in need and to be able to show the caring side of government.

Mr Speaker, we are also looking at the special needs transport review. The Health Department has engaged consultants, who have almost completed a review of special needs transport. The study focuses on special needs transport funded through HACC and on the ACT taxi subsidy scheme. The department is negotiating with the consultants on how best to bring the study to a conclusion. It is intended to bring this work to a conclusion so that its recommendations can begin to be implemented as soon as possible, and certainly within the next financial year. The Government is working in conjunction with key stakeholders, such as ACROD, the bus companies and so forth, to develop an action plan for accessible public transport in the ACT.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to mention that, in 1998, the Government established Community Connections, a non-government organisation, to provide information, negotiation and brokerage services to assist people with disabilities to optimise their access to generic services. Indeed, Community Connections has provided invaluable services to assist and empower people in this area.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to mention that the Government deals particularly with children with special needs; my colleague Mr Stefaniak is going to deal with this. The Government spends over $19m a year providing a range of special needs assistance to 1,466 students in government schools. I will leave it to Mr Stefaniak to elaborate on that issue. Mr Speaker, there is also the community organisations rental housing assistance program, which head-leases public housing stock. Additional funds of $1.5m were allocated in last year's budget for the provision of housing assistance to people with a disability. The program currently head-leases about 88 properties.

Mr Speaker, there is a huge range of things that are currently going on within this caring Government to ensure that we can deal with people with disabilities in the best possible way. I have never had any doubt about the intention of all members of this Assembly to do their very best to find the most effective ways for dealing with people with disabilities. There will be differences of opinion on occasions as to what is the best way to do that; but, generally, I have found that members are very much in agreement on the sorts of things that are going to be able to be used to achieve that.

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