Queensland pushes ahead with plan to rescue disability agreement

The Federal Government’s rejection of Queensland’s funding submission for disability services would result in the loss of almost $400 million of matched Commonwealth funds over five years, Queensland Disability Services Minister Warren Pitt said today.

Mr Pitt will meet with his counterparts from other states and territories in Sydney tomorrow in their bid to put plans for a fourth national disability agreement back on track.

Mr Pitt said negotiations for a fourth Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) had been derailed by the Federal Government’s petty politicking, at the expense of Queenslanders in need.

“For more than a decade, the states and territories have been working with the Federal Government to deliver specialist disability services through the multilateral CSTDA,” he said.

“While the Federal Government’s contribution to this agreement has fallen behind that of the states and territories in recent years, we still consider a cooperative approach to be the most effective way of providing services to people with a disability.

“In April, Federal Minister Mal Brough boasted about having extra funds available for accommodation and respite services, and asked the states and territories to make submissions to access these funds.

“But two months later, just as the states and territories finalised their joint submission, the Federal Government withdrew its offer and announced a disability funding package that will effectively duplicate existing arrangements.

“This unilateral action suggests that the Federal Government was never serious about its initial offer and that it is prepared to indulge in short-term political grand-standing rather than serving the best interests of people with a disability.”

Mr Pitt said the Federal Government had arbitrarily rejected Queensland’s funding proposal, under which an increased funding commitment from the state would have resulted in an extra $391 million of matching Commonwealth funds.

“Our proposal covered additional accommodation, respite and early intervention services for people with a disability, including specialist services for people with high-support needs,” he said.

“Our state plan also included provisions for service improvements to respond to the acute unmet needs of people with a disability.

“Queensland’s plan would mean a Commonwealth-State agreement that would help an extra 1,346 people with a disability – many of whom have high support needs that are not currently being met as they could be.

“But the Federal Government, through its action, has shown that it considers winning the next election more important than helping some of the community’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Mr Pitt said that the Federal Government’s withdrawn offer occurred without the consultation of the state and territory governments.

“The Queensland Government is committed to negotiations for a fourth disability agreement to deliver a nationally coordinated system of specialist disability services,” he said.

“An appropriate response from the Commonwealth Government would include an explanation of where the promised funds have gone and transparency in how the state plans were assessed — if they were at all.”

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3235 4280