NSW —
NSW Minister for Commerce and Disability Services,
John Della Bosca, has gained agreement from State and
Federal governments to look at a new national approach to
buying equipment and aids to get better value for people
with a disability.
Mr Della Bosca gained the agreement
at the Australian Procurement and Construction
Ministerial Council in Sydney.
"If we join together, our combined
purchasing capacity will deliver better value for money
and directly benefit the most vulnerable people in our
community." Mr Della Bosca said.
"Currently wheelchairs and other
aids for people with a disability are purchased by
governments on an ad hoc basis. Essential equipment such
as wheelchairs and communicators can cost as much as a
car.
"In NSW, we have found
inconsistencies in pricing, supply and availability of
this vital equipment for people with a
disability.
"We believe a national contract
where States, Territories and the Commonwealth purchase
together will reduce the cost of this essential
equipment.
"A national contract may also
foster the development of local industry and help build
smaller Australian-based companies involved in the
manufacturing of disability equipment.
"I am pleased my State and
Commonwealth colleagues agreed to investigate this
important issue so we can define the scope of the problem
and to see if substantial savings can be made.
"Over the past five years, spending
on disability equipment and aids has doubled. In NSW we
currently spend over $20 million annually on disability
equipment and aids.
"We also know that demand outstrips
supply and that this trend is likely to
continue.
"In NSW we believe this
investigation into a national approach also has the
potential to reduce waiting times for essential
disability equipment and aids," Mr Della Bosca
said.
The NSW Government has
recently released Stronger Together its new
10-year-plan for disability services which includes
additional funding of more than $1 billion over its first
five years.
"Stronger Together contains
the increased resources and fundamental policy changes to
deliver more respite, more therapy, more accommodation,
day care and certainty about the services people need,"
Mr Della Bosca said.
"It is a high priority of this
Government to ensure the most vulnerable people in our
community get the support they need and an investigation
of a new approach to purchasing will go a long way to
helping these families," said Mr Della Bosca.
Media contact: Daniel Dew 9228-4777
0401-122-951
