DISABILITY SERVICES ACT

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (29 October 2010).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises): The Minister for Disability has provided the following information:

1. The Disability Services Act 1993 is currently under review. This review is scheduled to be completed by July 2011.

2. By agreement with the Social Inclusion Unit, the officer undertaking the review has attended the community engagement meetings across South Australia for the Disability Blueprint. There will be targeted consultations with other interest groups as the review progresses. A Steering Committee, chaired by Dr David Caudrey, has been appointed to guide the Review Committee. Members are:

3. Since coming to Office, the Government's priority focus has been on increasing the capacity of disability services in South Australia. It has increased State spending on disability by 93 per cent from $135.4m in 2002-03 to $261.3m in 2009-10, based on data reported to the Report on Government Services. Priority has also been given to structural and functional reform of disability services. The context is now right to embark on a review of the legislation, given such important developments as the first phase of the self-managed funding initiative, the State and Commonwealth's National Disability Agreement (NDA), the reference to the Productivity Commission for a long term disability care and support scheme and overall changes in community attitudes.

4. In terms of the recommendations from the 1995 review, the Office of the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner has been established and handles such complaints. My Disability Advisory Committee is preparing advice on delivering a blueprint for world's best practice on protecting vulnerable South Australians with a disability. The timing of future reviews will be determined once the current review is completed.