SUPPORTING TASMANIANS WITH A DISABILITY

Jo Palmer MLC, Minister for Disability Services

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is helping more Tasmanians living with disability to access the support they need through the 2022-23 State Budget.

Our Government will provide an additional $400,000 over the next four years to establish the first ever Tasmanian Disability Services Commissioner.

This is in addition to the $1.2 million over four years committed in 2021-22 to deliver this important initiative.

This Budget is about making Tasmanians’ priorities our priorities and a Disability Services Commissioner will help ensure people with disability and their families receive the inclusive and accessible supports and services they need, including those supported through mainstream services.

Over the past year we have been consulting with key stakeholders and Tasmanians with disability on the review of the Disability Services Act. Based on this feedback, we are progressing the establishment of the Commissioner as a priority.

We will put in place an Interim Disability Commissioner while we continue to develop the legislative framework for this important role. This will ensure we activate the important roles and responsibilities of the Commissioner while the office and legislation is established. Recruitment for an Interim Disability Commissioner will begin next month.

The 2022-23 Budget is about delivering for all Tasmanians and includes continuing our 2021-22 Budget commitment of $1.4 million over four years to boost the Tasmanian Autism Diagnostic Service. This service assists with additional assessments to meet demand and help support more Tasmanians to access necessary supports.

We will also continue our investment of more than $1 million in annual funding for independent advocacy organisations such as Speakout Advocacy, Advocacy Tas and the Association for Children with Disability.

Importantly, this Budget will continue funding for National Disability Services, as part of the $660,000 over four years committed in 2021-22 to support their work as the peak body for local disability providers.

The 2022-23 Budget will continue our strong investment into the NDIS, with more than $1 billion committed over the next four years.

There are now more than 11,991 Tasmanians benefitting from the NDIS, including more than 7,400 who are receiving supports for the first time.

This is a Government that is focused on delivering for all Tasmanians.