Disability Services

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:53): A supplementary question arising from the answer: if the 100-day plan stated in one line that you are going to look to withdraw from these services, why weren't the two cabinet decisions to withdraw from the public corporation and the further decision to withdraw completely from the services communicated earlier to the people who are going to be affected?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:54): I can repeat things I have said here numerous times. I can repeat the election commitment, which was to provide a timetable—and I think the honourable member has that because he has seen it. There was a decision to withdraw from the public corporation made on 12 June, so that was notified to staff.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Which staff?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: To staff of DHS, all staff of DHS.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Not carers?

The PRESIDENT: Through me, minister.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: They are staff of DHS. In many ways the public corporation is a bit of a red herring because it had a board appointed and a CEO but apart from that it had not had the staff transferred to it as yet. The other decision was in relation to withdrawing from supported accommodation and the timetable for equipment services, which was in line with the 100 days commitment which was made, I think, in the cabinet meeting of 25 June.