ELECTION PROMISES BULLETIN #6- A DISABILITY SAFETY NET
ELECTION PROMISES BULLETIN #6- A DISABILITY SAFETY NET – March 2019 (PDF version)
CPSU NSW members would be well aware of our campaign and advocacy during the last year’s NSW parliamentary inquiry into the implementation of the NDIS. The inquiry culminated in a report which recommended, among other things, the reinstatement of a public safety net and that the Government return to the sector as a service provider of last resort.
The four major political parties in NSW with disability spokespersons – the Liberal/National Coalition, the Australian Labor Party, the Green and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers – were all written to in identical terms on 11 February 2019 by the CPSU to inquire what their policy position was in light of these recommendations.
On 7 March 2019 the leader of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, responded in unequivocal terms that they fully support the restoration of a public safety net.
Today, 22 March 2019 the Labor Party has responded that a Daley Labor Government will reinstate the role of the NSW Government as a public safety net and establish the NSW government as a service provider of last resort.
The Greens also responded today and affirmed their support.
The Berejiklian Government has not responded to the CPSU on this matter and rejected the Committee’s report recommendations of a public safety net and provider of last resort.
In his response to the report, Minister for Disability Services Ray Williams, put the onus of these responsibilities onto his Commonwealth colleagues and said that NSW will continue to support the gaps in the NDIS via NSW mainstream services, “when participants are admitted to hospitals, homeless shelters and prisons.” In writing the submission to the inquiry last year, the CPSU was inundated by members telling stories proving that relying on other government services as a provider of last resort for people falling through the cracks of the NDIS is hopelessly inadequate.
What have the Parties promised – A DISABILITY SAFETY NET
| Party | Will your Party support the reinstatement of the NSW Government as a public safety net for people with disability and will seek to support the NSW Government as a service provider of last resort to the NDIS to ensure crisis situations are managed appropriately? |
| Labor | Yes. |
| Liberals and Nationals | No response and the Government rejected these recommendations from the Parliamentary Inquiry. |
| The Greens | Yes. |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Yes. |
We know the provision of services to the people you work with on a daily basis is a weighty consideration in your voting intentions, and hope this provides some clarity as to the positions of the respective parties when you approach the ballot box tomorrow.
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