cuts
Disability
Services Minister, Roger Jaensch, must explain what he is doing to advocate for
all Tasmanian’s living with a disability following his attendance at a
Disability Reform Council meeting in Sydney today.
The Disability
Reform Council provides a forum to progress key national reform in
disability policy, including the NDIS.
Shadow
Minister for Disabilities, Jo Siejka, said Mr
Jaensch must explain how all people with a disability will have their needs met by a State Government more
interested in delivering $450 million budget cuts than looking after
Tasmanians.
“The Morrison
Government ripped $4.6 billion out of the NDIS and Tasmanian’s deserve to know
how many of the 10,600 Tasmanians eligible for the NDIS are currently being
supported by the program,” Ms Siejka said.
“Tasmanians also deserve to know how 90,000 Tasmanians living
with a disability – but who are not eligible for the NDIS – will have their
needs met by the State Government which is more interested in delivering $450
million budget cuts than looking after Tasmanians.
“For
many people their only option for support is to rely on services funded by the
Tasmanian Government. Yet already we’ve seen the Government make cuts to the Passenger Transport
Subsidy Scheme, which means Tasmanians with a disability will no longer be able
to depend on the state’s taxis for transport.
“It is currently not clear how many
Tasmanians are continuing to suffer without adequate supports, which is not
good enough.
“The Government is not ready for the transition to the NDIS
and it is Tasmanian advocacy organisations and the people they represent who
will suffer.
“While the Hodgman Government has failed to prepare itself
for the NDIS transition, Labor knows that more people trained in disability services sectors will mean more qualified staff and more jobs,
resulting in more Tasmanians getting the level of care they need. That is why Labor
will provide free TAFE courses across disability services sectors as part of
our free TAFE policy.
“Roger Jaensch must now step up and provide the solutions Tasmanians deserve.”
Jo Siejka MLC
Shadow Minister for Disabilities
