The missing disability dollars - where have they gone?

Catholic Welfare Australia congratulates the Australian Institute for Health & Welfare (AIHW) for the depth of its report into "Unmet needs for disability services" released in late July. The Report captures the major issues confronting disability services in Australia.

Of concern to Catholic Welfare Australia is the fact that some jurisdictions reported spending less expenditure than was promised under the recent bilateral funding agreement.

In the case of NSW, the AIHW report indicates that there was a discrepancy in reported expenditure between 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 of some $39m. The expenditure in 1999-2000 was $660m and in 2000-2001 it was $731m. Yet NSW claims to have spent $110m of the new unmet need funding in the same period. This must mean there were cuts to other areas of the disability budget during a period when levels of unmet need are rising and begs questioning the NSW State Government as to where this funding has gone. Where has the funding gone Mr Carr?

The report shows that the recent "unmet need" funding has been effective in putting some extra services on the ground. It still paints a rather bleak picture of the Disability Services sector. AIHW's conservative estimate is that across Australia there is a desperate need for additional places in the Sector including 12,500 extra accommodation and respite places, 8,200 extra Community Access places and 5,400 extra employment places. 

In recent years Disability Services have taken a back seat in debates about Government priorities for funding. Carers and advocates are getting tired of fighting for recognition and funding. As one carer states:

"We are old. We are poor. We are tired. We are ignored. We are used. We are fearful of the future. We need help!"

Catholic Welfare Australia urges Governments, particularly the State and Territory Governments, to take the findings of the AIHW report into consideration when renegotiating the Commonwealth, State and Territories Disability Agreement and develop a just system of addressing the needs of people with disabilities in a planned and equitable manner.

For an interview please call: Jackie Brady, Communications Officer, 0417 220 779