General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2

Debate resumed from 1 September 2009.

The Hon. ROBYN PARKER [2.33 p.m.], in reply: I will speak very briefly in response to the contributions made by honourable members on General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2's report on the Program of Appliances for Disabled People [PADP]. I thank members of the committee for their comments and support of the committee's recommendations and I look forward to the Government's moving with haste towards improving the program. Although perhaps it should have, the committee did not make a recommendation about the name of the program—it may do at a later date. It should make reference to "persons with a disability", not "disabled people". The word "persons" should be first.

I acknowledge the community alliance that was formed to provide a forum for organisations interested in the PADP. The alliance's thorough work was critical in the preparation of the report and in providing a response. The committee is very grateful to those who related their personal stories. I acknowledge the alliance's response to the Government's response to the committee's recommendations. The alliance membership included the Council of Social Service of New South Wales, People With Disability, Vision Australia, the Spastic Centre, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, the New South Wales Cancer Council, OT Australia, the New South Wales Aboriginal Community Care Gathering Committee, Carers New South Wales, and the Physical Disability Council of New South Wales.

I offer my personal thanks to Sean Lomas from Spinal Cord Injuries Australia for his commitment in bringing this issue to the committee's attention through the estimates process, for working with committee members—in particular, Mr Ian Cohen—and for his ongoing work on behalf of people with a disability. I reiterate the comment I made earlier: Our society should be measured by the way in which we treat our most vulnerable citizens. People with a disability are our most vulnerable citizens. This program has a long way to go and I look forward to the Government's making progress. I thank honourable members for their participation and I commend the report to the House.

Question—That the House take note of the report—put and resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.