Source: Office of the Hon. Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disability and Children's Services

M e d i a R e l e a s e

Bill Shorten MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services Government announces Disability Investment Group
23/04/08

The Australian Government has established a Disability Investment Group to explore innovative funding ideas from the private sector that will help people with disability and their families’ access greater support and plan for the future.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today said the group would encourage the private sector to play a greater role in the disability sector.

"The Disability Investment Group will look closely at identifying and developing options for private investment in housing, education, employment, equipment and other support for people with disability," Mr Shorten said.

"There is a real role the private sector can play here, and it is the Disability Investment Group’s job to find out what barriers are stopping private investment, and what can be done to remove them."

The Disability Investment Group will also look at innovative financial incentives and products to help families invest in the long term care of loved ones with disability. Its members are:

• Ian Silk, Chief Executive, AustralianSuper (Chair)
• Bruce Bonyhady, President of Philanthropy Australia, ANZ Executors and Trustees and Chairman of Yooralla
• Alan Fels, Professor, Dean of the Australian New Zealand School of Government, and former chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
• Bill Moss, Boston Management Services, former Banking and Property Head at Macquarie Bank
• Mary Ann O’Loughlin, The Allen Consulting Group
• Kathy Townsend, Kathleen Townsend Executive Solutions Pty Ltd
• John Walsh, PriceWaterhouseCoopers

"These members offer a wealth of experience and knowledge in philanthropic investment, including new innovations to develop alternate funding assistance for people with disability and their families.

"The Disability Investment Group will shortly invite submissions seeking advice on how to remove barriers to greater private investment in disability, and will also conduct a series of consultations around Australia," Mr Shorten said.

Media contact: Michele Legge 0409 244 865