Disability services – Disability Voices Tasmania funding
The National Disability Advocacy Framework of 2023‑25 includes an agreement by the federal and state governments.
The National Disability Advocacy Framework of 2023‑25 includes an agreement by the federal and state governments.
Minister, you talked a bit about DDA compliance with electric buses and that's why you might undertake a trial before purchasing; I understand that. The bus stops and DDA compliance is woeful across most of Tasmania, so I'm just wondering what you're doing to rectify the situation and making bus stops up to standard, up to DDA compliance.
I want to talk about specialist disability accommodation. In Tasmania we have a high proportion of people living with a disability: 26.8 versus 17 per cent elsewhere. There's significant demand, and I note that your dashboard says that 2735 Homes Tasmania tenants are living with a disability. The Housing Strategy Action Plan reports that as of April last year, 38 per cent of all applications on the housing register involve a person living with a disability, so we acknowledge that there's a significant need.
Minister. With the passing of the excellent disability inclusion and safeguarding bill, there's expected to be an increased demand for legal representation for people with disabilities. Your Story was a legal service that acted as a crucial portal for individuals with disabilities to connect with various services including NDIS and health.
Honourable Speaker, on behalf of the Greens, I acknowledge the International Day of Sign Languages next week. First, I acknowledge the lived experience of deaf people, those who live in a world of sound and, if we are honest, an ableist world, and, of course, Tasdeaf, who provide critical interpretation services and education programs.
The Greens will be supporting this motion as it raises an important issue for a large number of Tasmanians who are neurodiverse, and it calls for the government to do better.
In beginning, I acknowledge the lived experience of Tasmanians with disability and those who love and support them.
Honourable Speaker, I rise this afternoon to speak about the state of disability service funding within Tasmania. This is a significant issue, as over 26 per cent of Tasmanians are living with disability.
The Greens are strongly urging the government to be a voice for Tasmanians with disabilities.
We know there is a range of bus stops across Tasmania that are non-compliant with the federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992.