[Greens-Media] Disability reform not completed

[Manderson, Roland]

MEDIA RELEASE ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY

8 March 2005

=============
Disability Services post Gallop - Commissioner's an issue
=============


Greens MLA Deb Foskey today called for the ACT Government to work openly with the Canberra community in setting up the Disability Service Commissioner.

Speaking on the Government's final report on its response to the Gallop Inquiry to disability services, Dr Foskey argued that the next key outcome from the Territory's disability reform process is the creation of a Disability Services Commissioner.
 
"Next week the Government plans to table a Bill that sets up a new Human Rights and Service Review Commission, which would include a Disability Commissioner among others" Dr Foskey said.

"The powers and reach of the Commissioners, as laid out in the Bill, will determine their effectiveness.  But we haven't seen the details of the legislation in the Assembly yet, nor have people in the Disability field."

"In a discussion paper last August, however, the Government suggested a Commissioner with very limited capacity to identify gaps in vital services, and with no power to have recommendations enforced.  That is way short of what we need."

"I am calling on the ACT Attorney General to present the Bill as an exposure draft so that community response to the legislation can help the government get it right." 

Dr Foskey also argued that people on the ground are yet to be convinced that the reforms of the sector to date are delivering what they promise.

"I recognise a lot of money has been invested in the sector. However, when

·	85% of people with high needs applying for individual support packages (ISP's) are unsuccessful

·	those people lucky enough to be on ISP's have to make do without top up although their costs have increased 

·	There is no flexibility or growth in disability housing, leaving residents at risk
 
we have to accept that the outcomes are not satisfactory, and the process is a long way short of completion" Dr Foskey said.


================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged.
If you are not the intended recipient:
Please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately.
You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------