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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-07-22 Daily Xml
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DISABILITY EQUIPMENT

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Disability.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my right will behave also.

Ms CHAPMAN: Why has the government failed to deliver any one of its five promises to clear the disability equipment waiting lists? On 5 March 2010 the Premier announced, 'A re-elected Rann Labor government will inject an immediate $7.7 million to clear waiting lists for equipment for South Australian children and adults with a disability.' The government previously made the same promise (to clear the disability equipment waiting lists) in June 2004, in December 2004, in 2007 and in 2008 and, each time, failed to deliver.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:52): Yes, we did make that commitment during the election campaign, and we are working towards clearing—

Ms Chapman: Working towards?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Well, we are not talking about buying packets of bandaids here.

Ms Chapman: Working towards?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Well, let's compare the state Labor government's commitment to the provision of disability services in this state to that of the previous government and its election commitments. Since being in government, we have increased disability funding by in excess of 80 per cent of what the opposition was putting into disability services. Ask anyone in the disability sector—ask David Holst, and he will tell you families in South Australia know they get a better deal out of this Labor government than they ever got out of the Liberal government and are ever likely to get out of any Liberal government in the future.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I can't hear the minister. There is too much noise.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: During the last election campaign we made a number of significant commitments in relation to disability services. The Liberal opposition made a commitment of $10 million over four years—a lousy $10 million over four years. I would be embarrassed if I were the member for Bragg to come in here and try to compare what they were committing for disability services and what we are providing for people here in South Australia. Your lousy—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood!

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood, I warn you again. The member for Norwood is warned again—the second time.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Your lousy $2 million would not have touched the sides of the priority one waiting list. It would not have touched the sides. You are a disgrace, and the disability sector knows it.

Ms CHAPMAN: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully to your supplementary.

Ms CHAPMAN: What part of 'immediate' didn't you understand?

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order. Minister for Transport.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: It is not a question. It is plainly out of order. It is debate.

The SPEAKER: I think we will ignore that supplementary question.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Transport will be quiet.

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