Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I would just mention to the minister that a meeting was to be held on 17 November and I was hoping that he would be able to report on it, but I refer the minister to the following circumstances: last year 1,770 people with disability applied to the New South Wales government for permanent accommodation, yet only 64 were provided with a place. This is the same government who allowed disability accommodation houses to remain vacant for up to 20 months. I also say to the minister that the Tasmanian Labor government announced they were transferring provision of disability services to not-for-profit organisations, and a report commissioned by the Tasmanian government found that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the state to ensure quality services. In the light of these circumstances, Minister, do you really believe that the state and territory governments are capable of delivering adequate disability services?