Disabled, frail and elderly will be hit hard by National Party

Disability Services Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said Lawrence Springborg’s proposal to slash public sector funding would hurt Queensland’s most vulnerable citizens.

Ms Nelson-Carr said a three per cent productivity dividend across government would result in 12,000 jobs lost and the cutting of vital services.

“Mr Springborg’s only announcement affecting the disabled, frail and elderly is that he will rip $38 million out of Disability Services Queensland’s budget to pay for his $2.5 billion dollars in reckless election commitments so far,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“This year, the Bligh Government has a record $1.25 billion budget for Disability Services Queensland (DSQ). Mr Springborg wants to carve a massive $38 million out of this through his ’productivity dividend’.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said more than 95 per cent of DSQ staff were involved in frontline service delivery and only 137 resigned or retired last year.

To pay for Mr Springborg’s productivity dividend, DSQ would have to:

• make more than 450 DSQ staff providing frontline services (such as disability support workers and health professionals) “de-necessary” in one year alone

or

• carve more than $38 million out of the $900 million used to fund non-government organisations providing disability or Home and Community Care line services - making more jobs “de-necessary”

or

• make 1.25 million hours of respite care “de-necessary”

or

• make 900,000 hours of one-on-one disability support “de-necessary”

or

• make the subsidy paid for 15.8 million meals provided by “Meals on Wheels” services “de-necessary”.

“Mr Springborg and his shadow Minister need to tell Queensland’s most vulnerable citizens what’s in store for them,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“He owes them an explanation of how he can cut three per cent of DSQ’s budget without hundreds of jobs being lost and services being slashed.

“DSQ has 15 employees at Senior Executive Service level. Making them ‘de-necessary’ would only give you a small fraction of the $38 million he wants to cut from DSQ’s budget.”

Media contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s Office 3235 4280, 0419 734 985