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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-07-14 Daily Xml
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DISABILITY FUNDING

Ms PORTOLESI (Hartley) (14:49): Will the Minister for Disability advise the house of recent recipients of important disability grants and update the house on state government commitments to disability funding?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:50): In 2006 the Rann government announced $1 million for the Richard Llewellyn Arts and Disability Trust to support projects and initiatives that develop and celebrate the artistic aspirations of people with disabilities in South Australia. It is named after Richard Llewellyn who was a tireless supporter of the arts and enthusiastic advocate for disability access and inclusion in the arts sector.

Recently the state government released the third round of funding, where almost $180,000 will be provided to 16 individuals and nine organisations. The Richard Llewellyn Trust Fund has a short but proud history, funding the successful theatre productions Steak 'n' Chelsea by Rachel High and Tom the Loneliest with No Strings Attached. The trust is also responsible for the first movie ever produced by an artist with a disability in Australia. Rachel High was able to produce Brown the Dirt from a short notice grant.

This year, amongst the successful applicants was artist Jungle Phillips, who has received about $4,000 to present at three Sydney art galleries; and I am particularly interested to see what the harbour city thinks of his amazing work. Kyra Kimpton has received $10,000 for development of a solo dance piece Prelude;Phil Spruce has received $5,100 to draft a novel, All that you can be; and Ink Pot Arts Inc. has received over $8,000 for Tutti artists to work with The Gathering Wave choir to develop a concert performance. That is a small snapshot of people who have received grants.

The Richard Llewellyn Trust Fund is another example of the Rann government's strong commitment to the disability sector. Central to this massive commitment is the fact that $100 million more per year is now spent than under a Liberal government for disability services. We are proudly delivering services to 2,000 more people than those helped under the Liberal government. The Rann government can proudly boast that disability funding has risen every year of this government.

With the knowledge of this record, I have to say that I was somewhat surprised and dismayed to hear the new Leader of the Opposition claim on television that the government has not only failed on disability but also ripped millions of dollars out of the budget. In a television report she claimed that 'we took $31 million out of the disability budget and put it into a tram from Victoria Square to North Terrace'. The Leader of the Opposition would have the people of South Australia believe that this government cruelly ripped $31 million in capital expenditure out of the disability budget and slipped it over to transport. That is simply not true.

How does that fit with the report in The Australian yesterday which refers to criticism that she is too honest for her own good? In fact, the leader is quoted as saying 'if it was my undoing that I was too honest wouldn't that be a terrible legacy'. How can she possibly claim that we have ripped $31 million out of disability when she knows that is not true. That is incredibly disappointing. Does she really think any government could pull $31 million out of the disability budget and no-one would notice? It might be a trick those opposite might try to pull off, but it is not our track record. The Richard Llewellyn Trust Fund is a wonderful project, and I congratulate all this year's successful applicants.

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