Ms ROSOL question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Thank you, honourable Speaker. Yesterday federal Labor, backed in by the Liberals, passed brutal cuts to the NDIS. Tasmanians with disability will now be kicked off the NDIS and lose support they rely on. State-managed foundational supports are not in place and can’t possibly fill the gaps created by these cuts. This is a disaster for people with disability, and pressure on families will only grow as they are forced to take on more and more care. Tasmania is already under pressure. Hospitals, mental health services, schools and child safety services will also bear the brunt of these cuts. Premier, you’ve known this is coming yet you have still let the Treasurer slash these services in the Budget. What will you do? Are you going to ignore Tasmanians with disability, just like your federal counterparts?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for the question and interest in this matter, and I agree with the honourable member and empathise alongside her with the impacts of the changes federally to our NDIS. I know that premiers, and indeed ministers for disability across the nation, irrespective of political colour, have been united in ensuring that the impact on states, and thereby the people who are affected, are as minimal as possible, if not at all with respect to these matters. While I know our Minister for Disability Services can provide some greater detail and context around the discussions nationally, can I say by your inference in your question, no one can question our commitment to people with disability in Tasmania. We have updated the 2011 legislation. Minister Palmer brought in the legislation in the Legislative Council and I had the pleasure of taking it through this Chamber, which updated considerably how we support people with disability in this state, including for the first time ever in Tasmania investing very wisely in a commissioner for disability, ensuring that the rights of people with disability are heard fairly and supported through various processes of advocacy through the disability commissioner. I would not count –
Dr Woodruff – This is a massive funding cut.
Mr ROCKLIFF – By the federal government.
Dr Woodruff – Yes. You supported it. Your federal colleagues supported it.
Mr ROCKLIFF – We didn’t support it, frankly, and our minister has argued the case very strongly across the nation with all ministers for disability. We have been advocating very strongly. I recall the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, and myself taking charge of a position of premiers nationally to the federal minister for disability services at the time, Bill Shorten, a number of years ago, to work our way through the changes, recognising the unsustainability of the NDIS and –
Dr Woodruff – You did a political deal at the federal level.
The SPEAKER – Order, Dr Woodruff, honourable Leader of the Greens.
Mr ROCKLIFF – recognising there needed to be some change to ensure the investment.
Supplementary Question
Ms ROSOL – Thank you for those nice words and platitudes, Premier, but the reality is that people with disability were used as a bargaining chip at the federal level and there hasn’t been sufficient funding for disability in this state for many years. You already can’t deliver the services Tasmanians need. How on Earth are Tasmanians with disability going to get the services they need with these cuts?
ANSWER
As I have detailed, we have enormous empathy and are there to support people with disability –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order, honourable members of the Greens.
Mr ROCKLIFF – as a result of the changes brought in by the federal Labor government.
Dr Woodruff – Supported by the federal Liberal Party.
The SPEAKER – Honourable Leader of the Greens, this is your first warning.
Mr ROCKLIFF – We will work with community service providers in this very important space, but the rights of people with disability have been enhanced significantly as a result of the reforms we have made in this Chamber, and timely reforms, given the federal Labor changes that you have brought forward to this state Chamber today. I’m sure the Minister for Disability Services, Ms Palmer, would provide more detail for you.
