Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:45): My question is for the Minister for Disability. Minister, you have previously spoken in this place about an MOU between the state government and HACSU, the Health and Community Services Union, which comes to an end on 31 December this month. This MOU has allowed for the continuation of providing supported independent living services to people with complex and multiple disabilities. Sadly, as this MOU comes to an end this month, many of these residents are at risk of homelessness or being housed in unfit housing. Minister, can you explain how this aligns with your government’s State Disability Plan 2022–2026, especially its commitments to systemic reform and disability-confident and inclusive workforces, considering what is currently at stake for frontline disability workers and for people with disabilities living in group homes?

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:46): For the benefit of the house –

Enver Erdogan: One more go.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Yes, I will give it one more go. I have seriously answered this question about six times in relation to the transfer funding agreement, which, as I have previously explained to the house, is eight years old. It was a one-off agreement supported by workers and by the partners in the agreement in order to ensure the successful transition to the national disability insurance scheme. For the benefit of the house, because it seems to be confusing for very many in here, when the national disability insurance scheme was set up, there was an agreement by all states and territories. I was a backbencher at the time; I was not the not the Minister for Disability eight years ago. But at the time, in 2019, the providers assumed responsibility for approximately 550 homes, 2500 residents and, as has been pointed out, about 5500 employees. To ensure that staff were supported through this change as we transitioned to the national disability insurance scheme, the national scheme, there was a phased approach taken, and the final step was to move the SIL funding to direct NDIS plan funding for residents between February and June 2021. The government worked collaboratively – and indeed Ms Gray-Barberio referred to this in her question – with the sector and the Health and Community Services Union, and all parties acknowledged that this transition support would end on 31 December 2025. It was something that went over and above, I think, almost every single jurisdiction, because the Victorian government at the time said that in supporting the transition to the national scheme we would work collectively and would have an MOU. But that MOU is due to expire.

I am advised that providers continue their negotiations. From a state government perspective, we continue to advocate to the Commonwealth, and I have done this in every single Disability Reform Ministerial Council meeting that I have been to, advocating for there to be fairer national funding around planning, which then allows there to be a fairer price for services. But funding decisions, such as for SIL services for NDIS participants, are the responsibility of the national disability insurance scheme, and it is a scheme that the Victorian government pays $3 billion to a year. So to suggest that in any way we are walking away from our responsibilities is absolutely to the contrary. This is a matter for the parties to resolve with the Commonwealth. It is a national scheme. It is a national pricing issue. All of the jurisdictions are aligned on this. All of the jurisdictions are saying to the Commonwealth, ‘You need to ensure fair pricing to be able to provide for the services that people want under their plans.’ But ultimately it is a matter for the Commonwealth.

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:49): Thank you, Minister. Last week I visited an Aruma group home in my electorate where residents with complex needs, many unable to walk, speak or care for themselves, rely entirely on skilled staff for their daily lives. Supported independent living not-for-profit providers warned they are on the financial brink and unable to maintain a stable skilled workforce. How will you ensure people with complex disabilities are not left in limbo and continue to receive safe, high-quality support in their group homes?

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:50): I refer Ms Gray-Barberio to my substantive answer, but that is an issue that those providers need to continue to take up with the Commonwealth and ensure that the Commonwealth provides for them fair pricing. The Victorian government provides $3 billion a year to the national disability insurance scheme, and in return we expect that the Commonwealth provides fair pricing. The matters that Ms Gray-Barberio refers to are a matter for the Commonwealth to resolve.