In 2006, the Senate conducted an inquiry into the operation of the Commonwealth-State/Territory Disability Agreement.
The Inquiry confirmed that pressure is growing on our already overstretched disability services system. Levels of unmet need for disability services are unacceptably high and are expected to worsen significantly as the population ages.
The report of the Inquiry unanimously called for both the States and Territories and the Commonwealth to:
• commit substantially increased funding to the next CSTDA;
• work cooperatively to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of CSTDA services; and,
• develop a National Disability Strategy to provide high level, strategic coordination.
AFDO and its members, with other organisations including ACOSS, wrote to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, in February to outline our concern that the goodwill and momentum for urgently needed reform created through the Senate Inquiry was dissipating as the Commonwealth and the States and Territories engaged in a debate about cost-shifting.
AFDO argued that the Senate Committee recommendations provide a sensible way forward for responding to increasing demand, emphasising the need for increased base funding and for improved efficiency in the use of existing funding.
We requested that the Australian Government continue its commitment to improving the quality of life for people with disability by committing substantial growth funding to the 4th CSTDA and agreeing to work with people with disability and other stakeholders to develop a National Disability Strategy that will provide a strategic framework for CSTDA expenditure.