Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:12): (1302) My question is to the Minister for Disability. Minister, on 31 December your government cut $2.1 billion in disability group home subsidies. Since January, 29 specialist disability accommodation sites have closed in regional Victoria, with a further 11 in Bendigo now at risk, affecting 75 residents with profound disabilities, including in the Premier’s own electorate of Bendigo East. Last week disability workers took protected industrial action and rallied outside the Premier’s office in Bendigo. Has the minister received any representations from the Premier, as the local member, on behalf of her own constituents?

The PRESIDENT: I am just pondering, as far as ministerial responsibilities. I will call the minister.

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:13): I am again pleased to discuss these matters in this place and to explain to those opposite exactly where we find ourselves. As partners in the national disability insurance scheme and in the delivery of disability services that were transferred to the national disability insurance scheme, fair plans for participants and fair pricing for providers remain matters for the Commonwealth government, as I indicated yesterday. Advocacy, as such, should be directed at the Commonwealth government. It is mischievous of members of this place and indeed the union to confuse industrial issues with the transfer funding that was provided in order to ensure a smooth transition to the NDIS. With the agreement of the union, it was transition funding. It was funding for a limited period of time that ended on 31 December, with a view to those interested parties working with the Commonwealth government to establish a fair pricing model. What I have said in this chamber, what I have said publicly and what I have said in correspondence to people right across this state who have written to me, mostly having been misinformed, is that this is a matter that needs to be taken up with the Commonwealth government. It is a matter that I have taken up with the Commonwealth government, including at a number of disability reform ministerial councils, including with the Commonwealth minister for the NDIS, Minister McAllister. Fair pricing is a matter that I have continued to advocate for, and I continue to advocate for fair plans when we are talking about disability reform. But what is mischievous of those opposite and indeed HACSU is this constant conflation of issues and indeed the suggestion that a matter that is a matter for the Commonwealth government is a matter for the Victorian government.

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:15): Thank you, Minister. A group home in Kangaroo Flat has already closed. Seventy-five residents face eviction, and workers were protesting outside the Premier’s office last Monday. What support is being given to these residents, what support is being given to the 4900 residents across 580 group homes statewide facing the same crisis, and who is advocating on their behalf?

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:15): I thank the member for her question, and I question whether the member has actually appropriately directed her advocacy, if it is indeed genuine, to the Commonwealth government, because that is where the advocacy should be directed.

Renee Heath: On a point of order, President, you cannot reflect on a member like that, and I ask the minister to withdraw.

The PRESIDENT: The minister to continue.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: I was not in any way trying to reflect on the member, but I was indeed trying to point out that if the member has got an issue with the Commonwealth government, then the member should raise those issues with the Commonwealth government rather than confusing and conflating issues, which ultimately is to the disadvantage of the very people that she claims to be asking the question on behalf of.