Published Tuesday, 24 July, 2012 at 09:29 AM
Premier
The Honourable Campbell Newman
Queensland reaffirms support for NDIS
Premier Campbell Newman today reaffirmed Queensland’s support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and called on the Prime Minister to stop using the welfare of people with a disability as a political football.
Speaking ahead of COAG, Mr Newman said Queensland had expressed an interest in hosting a NDIS launch site.
“The LNP Government wrote to Minister Macklin in June to express an interest in hosting a launch site if the Commonwealth met the full costs associated with it, but we have not yet received a formal response from the Minister,” Mr Newman said.
"The fact that we wrote to the Federal Government in June and they haven’t replied shows that they are not serious about supporting people with disabilities in Queensland.”
Mr Newman said the Queensland Government had already done the work to identify a NDIS launch site in the State, with Gympie determined as a suitable launch site providing the Federal Government fully fund it.
Mr Newman said the Queensland Government supported the Productivity Commission’s model that the Federal Government fully funds the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“The Federal Labor Government is pulling billions of dollars out of Queensland through the Carbon Tax and the Minerals Resources Rent Tax but they’re refusing to give people with disabilities the support they need.”
“The Prime Minister comes up with proposals like the NDIS and the Gonski Report which outlines a new model for funding schools and then puts her hand out to the states to fund her ideas.
“The fact is the Federal Government has a responsibility to fund welfare reform and the states simply do not have the revenue or financial capacity to keep funding Labor’s promises.”
Mr Newman said it seemed every time Queensland went to Canberra for COAG the Federal Labor Government were demanding a cash handout from the States.
“If the Prime Minister and Minister Macklin were serious about funding disability services for Australians, they would stop palming the responsibility off to the States and get on with funding these important services.”
[ENDS]
Media enquiries: Premier’s Office (07) 3224 4500
Speaking ahead of COAG, Mr Newman said Queensland had expressed an interest in hosting a NDIS launch site.
“The LNP Government wrote to Minister Macklin in June to express an interest in hosting a launch site if the Commonwealth met the full costs associated with it, but we have not yet received a formal response from the Minister,” Mr Newman said.
"The fact that we wrote to the Federal Government in June and they haven’t replied shows that they are not serious about supporting people with disabilities in Queensland.”
Mr Newman said the Queensland Government had already done the work to identify a NDIS launch site in the State, with Gympie determined as a suitable launch site providing the Federal Government fully fund it.
Mr Newman said the Queensland Government supported the Productivity Commission’s model that the Federal Government fully funds the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“The Federal Labor Government is pulling billions of dollars out of Queensland through the Carbon Tax and the Minerals Resources Rent Tax but they’re refusing to give people with disabilities the support they need.”
“The Prime Minister comes up with proposals like the NDIS and the Gonski Report which outlines a new model for funding schools and then puts her hand out to the states to fund her ideas.
“The fact is the Federal Government has a responsibility to fund welfare reform and the states simply do not have the revenue or financial capacity to keep funding Labor’s promises.”
Mr Newman said it seemed every time Queensland went to Canberra for COAG the Federal Labor Government were demanding a cash handout from the States.
“If the Prime Minister and Minister Macklin were serious about funding disability services for Australians, they would stop palming the responsibility off to the States and get on with funding these important services.”
[ENDS]
Media enquiries: Premier’s Office (07) 3224 4500