NSW — NSW Liberal
Leader Peter Debnam, Shadow Minister for Disability
Services John Ryan and Liberal Candidate for Penrith
Trish Hitchen today announced a Liberal/Nationals
Government will ensure adequate funding for disability
aids and appliances for the Program of Appliances for
Disabled People (PADP).
"The community expects government
to assist those who need help without to wait years to
get it," Mr Debnam said
"I will do all I can to ensure
people with disabilities can all the assistance they need
and that's why I'm committing to adequately funding the
PADP program," he said.
"The equipment program is grossly
under-funded and families have made it clear to the
Government for years, but they've been in
denial.
“Respected peak disability
organisations such as the Physical Disability Council
estimate the current budget for disability equipment
should be at least $35 million a year to meet the level
of demand," Mr Debnam said.
Mr Ryan said some people with
disabilities are waiting more than two years for a
wheelchair or other essential aids and equipment, others
don’t even bother to ask for equipment because of
the extended waiting times and go instead to service
clubs or the charitable sector to request
funding.
"Recently the State Government was
embarrassed by taking so long to provide a wheelchair for
a terminally ill two year old boy that he became too ill
to use it.
"Morris Iemma and John Della Bosca
have completely ignored the need to increase funding for
this vital area of disability services.
"In April 2004, 36 Disability
organisations wrote to Morris Iemma when he was Health
Minister alerting him to the need to increase funding or
disability aid and appliances to at least $30 Million.
(see http://www.pdcnsw.org.au/priorities/support/04/padp.html)
"In the last budget, the Iemma
Government allocated just $22 million for PADP, leaving a
shortfall of $13 million. Peter Debnam and I will top up
that funding with $13 million a year to ensure people
with disabilities get their wheelchairs and other
aids."
Liberal Candidate for Penrith,
Trish Hitchen, whose has an eight year old son, Liam with
Cerebral Palsy has experienced these difficulties first
hand.
“Last year when we needed to
replace Liam’s wheelchair I was told that we faced a
three year wait, so we decided to approach the Spastic
Centre for help," Mrs Hitchen said.
"If Morris Iemma and John Della
Bosca will not address this issue Peter Debnam and I will
by providing the PAPD program with $35 million of yearly
funding, $13 million more than is currently
provided,” Mr Ryan said
The PADP is a State
Government-funded scheme providing funding for equipment
such as wheelchairs, walking frames and sticks, and other
personal assistance items. These items are vital to
assist people with disabilities to live independently in
the community.
Mr Debnam said Morris Iemma and
John Della Bosca had failed their responsibilities, as
have their Labor colleagues, Carl Scully, Michael Costa,
Joe Tripodi, Frank Sartor and Eddie Obeid.
"NSW deserves higher standards,
better services and balanced budgets," he
said.
