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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-10-15 Daily Xml
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Transport Subsidy Scheme

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is delivering certainty for South Australian NDIS participants who use the SATSS (South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme)?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (15:01): Can I say that we made a promise to vulnerable users who have transitioned to the NDIS earlier this year that we would not leave them in the lurch, and we have delivered on that promise. Again, much to the consternation, fear and smear that were coming from certain sections of this chamber from people who were essentially undermining this government's efforts to get on and deliver a solution to a problem that they created, we fixed by working together.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order, minister. The more points of order that there are the less questions that get asked, but I will hear it.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you for not impinging on my privileges, sir. First, the minister is imputing improper motive and he is creating debate, sir.

The SPEAKER: He didn't name any member in particular, but I will say this: if you start, minister, arguably saying things like that, we might descend to a level of decorum that we are much better and more capable of. So let's get to the point, and then I would like to have some more questions answered. Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: So we fixed the mess that was created. We did it by working maturely, in a grown-up way, with the federal government, by using the relationship that we had—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —in this case with minister Stuart Robert, to deliver a solution that is going to provide certainty for those users who have transitioned to the NDIS.

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hurtle Vale!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: For those some 5,000 people who have transitioned or will transition to the NDIS, they will now have access for the next two years to the current taxi subsidy scheme—essentially, the federal government helping to underwrite the state's existing taxi subsidy scheme to make sure that it can continue.

There is also recognition federally, and I want to thank the minister in the other place, the Hon. Michelle Lensink, for the fantastic advocacy that she has undertaken in this role to work with the federal government so that they identify and have now accepted the fact that the NDIS packages in relation to transport that were put in place are inferior. They do not provide the level of subsidy and service that vulnerable members of our community deserve, so what we will be doing is providing the existing taxi subsidy scheme in the short term—

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light is warned.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —over the next two years whilst we work on a permanent solution. I think that is a fantastic outcome for vulnerable people living with a disability in our community.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: The least you could do is sit there quietly or say thank you for fixing your mess—

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light is on two warnings.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —that you guys set up in 2015 and you couldn't fix while you were in government. We have had to come along and clean it up. You could at least have the decency to be quiet about it. But, no, that's not what happens. That is not what has happened. Five thousand people have been looked after—vulnerable people in our community that this government has delivered for—and those members opposite should be ashamed of themselves and the fact that they created a mess that once again we have had to clean up.

The SPEAKER: The minister has finished his answer. The member for Light can leave for the remainder of question time and, when you do, the member for Elizabeth will have a question.

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Sorry, member for Light? What was that?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I said I should be sorry; thank you.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order: I distinctly heard the member for West Torrens, during that altercation between you and the departing member for Light, undermining your ruling.

The SPEAKER: I will consult with the video referee, minister. The member for Light is leaving.

The honourable member for Light having withdrawn from the chamber:

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