Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Steele-John and Brown, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the New South Wales (NSW) Government will be cutting funding for disability advocacy from July 2018 and that this will affect the Council for Intellectual Disability and other disability organisations;

(b) acknowledges:

  (i) the importance of advocacy for the inclusion of people with disability and their full participation in our communities,

  (ii) the 'Don't Silence Us' campaign being run by the Council for Intellectual Disability calling on the Premier of NSW to guarantee on-going funding for the Council for Intellectual Disability, and

  (iii) the 'Stand by Me' campaign being run by the NSW Disability Advocacy Alliance calling on the NSW Government to stand by them and provide the necessary funding for them to be able to continue serving people with disability in NSW after July next year; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to work with the NSW Government and other state governments to ensure that funding for disability advocacy is not reduced at the state level.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government recognises the role of advocates in representing people with disability. The government considers that all jurisdictions should continue to play a role in disability advocacy under the National Disability Strategy and, in line with the recommendations of the 2017 Productivity Commission review of NDIS costs, the government will continue to put this position to our state and territory colleagues.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I made a grave mistake. I omitted to add Senator Carol Brown. I apologise to Senator Brown. Could I add Senator Brown's name?

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted.

Question agreed to.