Thursday, 5 June 2008
ACTION NOW FOR A FUTURE
FOR DISABILITY FUNDING
Measures in today’s State Budget taken together with matching Commonwealth funding will provide tens of millions of dollars for disability spending and deliver better and new services for thousands of South Australians.
Details of the State’s share of the $1.9 billion in Federal-State disability funding package have now been announced, with South Australia securing $72.9 million in Commonwealth Government funding over the next four years for new services.
The Commonwealth money matches a new State Government commitment of $26m and $46.9m of additional money committed in last year’s Budget, which the then Howard Government failed to match.
The 2008-09 Budget also provides $8 million for disability compliance in our public transport network.
The Budget spending boost comes on top of $5 million to clear equipment waiting lists and $2 million for the redevelopment of the hydro-therapy pool complex at Novita’s Regency Park Centre.
Mr Foley says these measures provide a much-needed funding boost and recognise the growing demand for disability-specific services.
“The Rann Government has a strong commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities,” Mr Foley says.
The Commonwealth has also provided a one-off grant of $8 million to build new, group homes for people with a disability.
“This will mean we can get to work on building eleven new homes, which will provide places for 55 people with a disability who are most urgently in need of assistance,” Mr Foley says
“This extra spending is specifically benefiting older carers by providing more group home places, more respite and more help for people who want to keep living at home.”
The extra recurrent Commonwealth and State funding will over the next four years provide new services in the following areas:
