Page 3127 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


have control over and direct their funds as they saw fit. By having real life experience exercising this choice and control, people with a disability, and their families and carers, will be better prepared for the NDIS and better able to live the life that they choose.

The evaluation of my choice also offered insights for service providers, who will be better able to understand what practices they could develop to better serve people wishing to self-manage their funds.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.

MS BERRY: Minister, what other work is underway to support providers and people with a disability through this process?

MS BURCH: I thank Ms Berry for her question. There have been significant conversations, connections and support between government and community providers across the ACT, and also community providers that have an interest in coming into the ACT. Just this week there will be the third symposium on housing to look at innovative housing models and opportunities for people with a disability. That is the third. There have been two other successful ones. Also, in more recent times the National Disability Services ACT had a road show here. Many providers and interested community stakeholders had an opportunity to go and listen to the NDS about the NDIS and the opportunities that are being developed here.

In addition, we have made a commitment to support our community organisations through a very strong sector development fund. The second envelope of that funding to the tune of $6 million is currently being delivered and worked through to support our community providers.

Transport—light rail

MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Capital Metro. Minister, can you confirm that the cost of capital metro is the $783 million stated, plus the $33.9 million provided to the Capital Metro Agency until the end of this financial year, plus the $9.8 million budgeted for the Capital Metro Agency until 2018, making a total cost of $826.7 million?

MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Wall for his question. The government has been very clear about the capital delivery cost estimate for the capital metro project, which is a $610 million capital delivery cost estimate, plus a $173 million contingency. It is not appropriate for Mr Wall to seek to include those other costs in the cost of the project. First of all, it confuses the capital delivery cost with recurrent costs for the administration of the government agency. As anyone would understand, or as anyone should understand who has been in this place, there is a big difference between capital cost and recurrent costs for broader administration. For example, do we hear those opposite say that you should include the costs of the administration of Territory and Municipal Services in the cost of the delivery of a road? Or should you include the costs of the department of education in the capital delivery cost of a school? The fact is that the government has set out clearly the capital delivery cost of the project, and that is $610 million plus a $173 million contingency.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video