Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-06-22 Daily Xml

Contents

Disability Services

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Human Services about disability. Why after eight years of the NDIS has the minister suddenly decided to slash funding for the disability peak body, National Disability Services?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his question. He should be reminded that it was actually his government that made the arrangements that a range of services which were funded prior to the full transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme were not to have funding renewed once South Australia achieved full transition. National Disability Services is one of those organisations. Can I also point out that—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —there are other peak bodies that exist and, in fact, I should declare an interest: I used to work for an aged-care services provider prior to entering parliament and we received absolutely no government funding. We relied on the funding of our membership. Given that the National Disability Insurance Scheme—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The honourable deputy leader is out of order.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —is at full transition, we are merely implementing what Labor put in place, which was to transition that money to the NDIS and therefore—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —the NDS's funding will cease on 30 June.