Source: Office of the Hon Lara Giddings MP, Deputy Premier of Tasmania and Minister for Health and Human Services

Lara Giddings, MP
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Human Services

Friday, 30 May 2008

Positive outcomes for people with disabilities, their families and carers

The Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings, today welcomed a new era of cooperation with the Federal Government on delivering additional support to people with disabilities, their families and carers.

Ms Giddings said today's meeting of Disability Services Ministers in Sydney marked a positive start to negotiations on a new disabilities funding agreement.

"The Commonwealth and the States have agreed to invest an additional $1.9 billion into the sector over four years.

"This funding injection is expected to deliver around 2,300 in-home support packages, a similar number of supported accommodation places and 9,900 individual support packages.

"In addition, 10,000 respite places are set to created across the country.

"This will make a significant difference to people living with disabilities across Australia, but especially in Tasmania where the contribution of the previous Commonwealth Government has steadily declined.

"The additional funding is greatly needed and will assist Tasmania in delivering significant change and improvements to support for people living with disabilities, their families and carers.

"We all understand that there is a significant level of unmet need and that much more needs to be done.

"This is an important first step in addressing this need.

"We now have a shared commitment to better meet the needs of people with disabilities as well as their families and carers.

"I want to commend the new cooperative approach of the Federal Minister, Jenny Macklin and Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten, in the area of disability services.

"This is one of the most positive meetings we have had with the Commonwealth Government and I am confident our cooperation will result in real differences for people with disabilities across the country.

"Importantly, there is a focus on ageing carers -a particularly welcome development for Tasmania which has a population ageing faster than most other states and territories.

 "I am pleased that under this agreement the Commonwealth has agreed to contribute funding for aids, appliances and equipment - something that was sadly lacking under the previous Government," Ms Giddings said.

Further information: Tasmanian Government Communications Unit
Phone: (03) 6233 6573