House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Disability Equipment DISABILITY EQUIPMENT Mr SIBBONS House of Assembly Mitchell DISABILITY EQUIPMENT Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Disability. Can the minister outline what initiatives the government has made in delivering specialist equipment services for South Australians with disability? The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly Wright Minister for Families and Communities Minister for Housing Minister for Ageing Minister for Disability DISABILITY EQUIPMENT The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:59): I thank the member for Mitchell for his question. In 2008, a six-month project was undertaken to reform policy and clinical operational procedures involved in the supply of equipment and home modifications to clients of Disability Services and Domiciliary Care SA. A subsequent six-month project was undertaken in 2010 to fully integrate the provision of children's equipment into the DFC equipment program. Our combined increased investment and reforms in the provision of disability equipment has allowed us to supply 6,097 items of equipment and 451 home modifications to South Australians with a disability in the last financial year. Interestingly, on 24 September 2008, the then opposition spokesperson for disabilities moved a motion in the Legislative Council labelling the reorganisation of disability services as a failure. In reference to reforming the supply of disability equipment— The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Point of order, the member for MacKillop. Mr WILLIAMS House of Assembly Mr WILLIAMS: I think it is unruly and out of order to reflect on a debate in the other place. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I'm not sure about unruly, but it is not normal practice. Minister, continue with your answer. The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. He said 'the service under the new equipment scheme is getting worse'. Before this process began in 2006-07, 1,941 items of equipment were supplied to adults and children with disabilities, with 131 being refurbished items. In that year, 231 home modifications were also completed. It is worth noting that in 2001-02—the final year of the previous Liberal government—only 1,393 new items of equipment and home modifications were provided. In short, the quantity of equipment supplied to this group of South Australians has approximately tripled with a doubling of home modifications undertaken since this reform was put in place. The dollars invested in disability are precious and we are making every effort to— Ms Chapman interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The member for Bragg is much louder than she was yesterday. She was dumbstruck yesterday. We didn't hear any personal explanations. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will get back to the question. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Have you finished your answer? The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: No, I haven't, Madam Speaker. We didn't hear any personal explanations about— Ms Chapman interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —responsible for us being over this side. Ms Chapman interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg, you are warned for the second time! The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Out in sub-branch land, you're not very popular. Mr PENGILLY House of Assembly Mr PENGILLY: Point of order. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Point of order, the member for Finniss. Mr PENGILLY House of Assembly Mr PENGILLY: I know that you have just warned the member for Bragg a second time, but clearly she is being intimidated by this ferocious minister on the other side. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! I cannot imagine the member for Bragg being intimidated by anyone. The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: If we can intimidate her into silence, that can only be a good thing. We are making every effort to ensure that we maximise the benefit to those seeking our assistance as well as getting value for money. Thirty-three per cent of the equipment provided last year was new and, importantly, 77 per cent of the equipment supplied had been refurbished. The ongoing improvements have meant that, in 2010, supply times for items from the DFC equipment program averaged just three to four days from the time a client received a prescription. More complex items, including hoists, hospital beds and mobile shower chairs are supplied now in nine days, eight days and three days respectively. This compares with supply times for the same items in 2006-07 of more than 40 business days for beds and mobile shower chairs and 17 days for hoists. There are exceptional circumstances where a client's needs are complex and supply may take longer. However, supply times have been significantly improved by refurbishing equipment that has not yet reached the end of its life cycle. The final phase of integration occurred late last year— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —and involved our ongoing partnership with Novita Children's Services. Prior to these reforms, separate equipment services for adults and children and older people with disabilities operated, creating inconsistent quality, inequities and inefficiencies. Since coming to office, this government has invested $44.5 million on disability equipment, and we recently committed $7.7 million to clear equipment waiting lists and increase the annual funding by $2.36 million. This will take recurrent funding to over $6 million by 2012-13; a stark contrast between Labor and Liberal. Not one extra piece of equipment was promised by the— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order. Minister, sit down. Mr WILLIAMS House of Assembly Mr WILLIAMS: The minister is now debating the answer. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I uphold that, it is getting close to it. Minister, have you finished your response? Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! An honourable member House of Assembly An honourable member: No, but wait, there is more! The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: We acknowledge that there is still more work to do, but let me say we are streets ahead of whatever they promised at the last election.