Questions without notice and ministers statements
Disability services
Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:00): My question today is for the Minister for Disability, Minister Blandthorn. Minister, eight years ago the government made a commitment to participants, families and relevant unions that state-run group homes would not be privatised with the transition to the NDIS. Despite this, homes were transferred to five non-government providers, each receiving a share of $2.1 billion to bridge the funding gap between NDIS pricing and the enterprise agreement, which includes essential staffing ratios, qualified supervision and safety measures that have made Victoria a national leader in disability support. This subsidy is set to expire on 31 December this year. Without a clear plan nearly 5000 participants, 7500 workers and five service providers responsible for operating 580 group homes across Victoria face an uncertain future. What is the government’s plan to ensure the continuity and quality of care for participants and stability for workers and providers beyond the ending of this funding arrangement?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:01): I am happy to answer this question again for Mr Bourman, as I answered it recently for Mr Ettershank. Obviously when we transitioned to the national disability insurance scheme, well on a decade ago, there was discussion at the time about how we transfer what was a comprehensive system of Victorian disability supports into a national system. As I think that is important in a number of areas, it was certainly important in terms of having a national disability insurance scheme. The Victorian government has spent $3 billion this year into the national disability insurance scheme. In the transition of supported disability accommodation and the associated services with that into the NDIS the Victorian government did come to an arrangement where, in order to withdraw government services and provide for community services in the delivery of those services, in addition to our $3 billion this year – year on year, our contribution to the NDIS as co-governance of the scheme – we made the commitment that we would provide a transition payment. We worked collaboratively with the unions at the time in the establishment of that payment, and we have worked collaboratively with those organisations.
Ultimately, pricing and supports and the plans which individuals achieve through the NDIS are what pay for their accommodation. We have supported the transition of those services for a significant period of time. It has always had a natural ending, and our role now is to ensure that the Commonwealth does its bit in a national disability insurance scheme and make sure that the Commonwealth ensures that people’s plans are adequate to meet both their accommodation needs and also their service needs more broadly. So we continue to advocate, and many in this chamber would have seen me advocate at length for a better deal from the Commonwealth in relation to disability services in Victoria and better deals for individuals who have plans under the NDIS and ensuring that those people who have plans and are entitled to have a plan continue to be entitled to have a plan. But ultimately this is a national scheme. We pay $3 billion a year. These organisations were provided with their transition payments, and it is on the Commonwealth to ensure that services, including accommodation services, are adequately funded to meet the needs of people with disability to ensure that they can live in dignity.
Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:04): I thank the minister for her answer, and I might make a comment that if LCV and the Shooters and Fishers are on a unity ticket, there is still considerable concern out there. In my electorate alone, three group homes have closed in Bairnsdale, Traralgon and Orbost, with reports of further closures imminent due to financial unsustainability among the not-for-profit providers. Workers are now facing the possibility of a one-third reduction in their wages, whilst critical safety standards for residents may be abandoned as of 31 December. How does the government intend to address this impending crisis for both participants and workers in my region, and does the government accept that it has a moral obligation to these people as the provider of last resort?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:04): I thank Mr Bourman again for his question. I think this whole Parliament is on a unity ticket in ensuring that people with disability get the services that they are entitled to, and in a national disability insurance scheme much of that comes from the packages and the plans that are associated with individuals who have qualified for the NDIS. Absolutely I think there is great concern out there in the community. I am probably amongst the chief concerned about those people who will miss out in terms of what the Commonwealth is talking about in further refining assessment eligibility and the decisions that they have made in relation to pricing.
Indeed at our last disability ministerial council the pricing issue itself was of grave concern to state ministers right across the country, because while we have made a commitment to what can be the reform of a generation in the NDIS, similar to that of Medicare at its time, the Commonwealth does have to do its bit – and we are all committed to doing our bit – to make sure that the scheme is sustainable but also that it is providing for those most in need through adequate plans and through fair pricing for providers.