DISABILITY EQUIPMENT

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (10 November 2010) (First Session).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I am advised:

There is no reference to money being stashed in the 'Grant payment for disability equipment' section of the Auditor-General's Report. Indeed, the Auditor-General identified on p 446 that the grants to Julia Farr Association (JFA) were used for the purpose intended:

Of crucial importance, it is acknowledged that the grant funds allocated to the Department were used to facilitate the purchase of disability equipment as was approved by Cabinet.

The grants totalling $5.07 million to JFA were used for the prescribing and purchasing of equipment to address the waiting list. These funds have sped up the process of addressing the disability equipment waiting list.

Over 2006-07 and 2007-08 a total of $10.69 million was provided as non-recourse grants to non-government organisations for the purpose of purchasing equipment for children and adults with disability, with the intent of clearing waiting lists at various points in time.

In 2009-10, the government again provided an additional $13.8 million in funding over four years from 2010-11 to 2013-14, in addition to $3.8 million provided in 2009-10, to clear waiting lists and provide recurrent funding of roundly $2.4 million per annum to assist in meeting demand pressures for disability equipment.