A partnership between the State and Federal Governments has
delivered 17 new homes across Tasmania for people with disability, the Minister
for Human Services, Cassy O'Connor, said today.

At Newnham this morning, Ms O'Connor toured the two final units
completed under the $3.42 million program.

"Each of these units has been built near an existing disability
group home or other supported accommodation," Ms O'Connor
said.

"This will ensure that residents can continue to live with the
level of independence they are used to, while still being able to access the
support they need."

Ms O'Connor said the new units would also help older carers plan
for the time when their adult children with disability need to move from home to
other accommodation.

"These units will provide the reassurance that another option
exists when elderly carers can no longer care for their adult children at home,"
she said.

Ms O'Connor said an additional investment from both the State
and Federal Governments has helped deliver more units through the program than
originally anticipated.

"After the Commonwealth provided funding for 12 units, we were
able to commit funding and land for an additional three units, with two more
built under the Federal Government's National Building Stimulus Funding
Package," she said.

"This demonstrates the commitment at both a State and Federal
level to delivering more flexible living options for Tasmanians with a
disability."

The Federal Minister for Families, Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs and Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin said the Australian
Government's $100 million investment in capital funds for supported
accommodation has helped build more than 300 supported accommodation places
across Australia, including those in Tasmania.

"This project is a great example of how the combination of
Commonwealth and State Government investment in supported accommodation is
helping address unmet demand, support people with disability and their carers to
plan for the future and provide dignity for people with disability," she
said.

"The Australian Government is committed to working with State
and Territory governments to improve the lives of people with disability - in
addition to our investments in supported accommodation, we're doubling our
funding under the National Disability Agreement over the life of the Agreement,
established the first ever National Disability Strategy, and announced that the
first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme will start in
mid-2013."

Ms O'Connor said the units were designed to meet the needs of
people living with disability while also delivering an attractive and
environmentally-efficient home.

Units delivered through the $3.42 million program have been
built at Legana, Newnham, Latrobe, Wynyard, Burnie, Warrane and
Chigwell.