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- 7 June 2007
Stronger Together
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Page: 1054
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: My question is addressed to the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services. Will the Minister update the House on the Government's efforts to increase support for families and carers of people with disabilities?
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: We know that being able to remain in the family home has a positive impact on the lives of people with a disability. However, we cannot overlook the additional strain that this puts on families. Families and carers throughout the State require additional services to support them and to help them care for their family member in the family home. The Government has made a strong commitment to supporting and improving the lives of people with a disability, their families and their carers. This commitment is expressed in our 10-year plan Stronger Together, which is backed by $1.3 billion in funding. We are building more flexible services that aim to respond better to people's needs and improve the range and quality of services available.
Mr Andrew Fraser: Jim Perrin can't wait 10 years.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: I am happy that the member for Coffs Harbour is so interested in providing additional support to people with a disability. I would have thought that members of a party that went to the State election without a policy in this area might show a bit more interest in the subject. I will give an example of the supports that we are providing to families of people with disabilities.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Coffs Harbour will remain silent.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: We are providing new support networks that are targeting children and young people with a disability, their families and their siblings. Research tells us that a combination of formal and informal support networks can help to facilitate connections between people in similar situations. This gives them encouragement and support when it is most needed. Support networks can also provide emotional, practical and social support to people with a disability and their families.
Last week the member for Marrickville and I visited a disability service in the electorate of Marrickville. There we met a family with a five-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with autism when she was two. They told us that being able to talk to other families with similar experiences was incredibly important. It gave them the opportunity not only to talk to people who were having the same experiences on a daily basis but also to share practical advice and support. We should remember that people with a disability often have siblings who are impacted within the family. Peer support networks can give support to young people with a disability that will assist in reducing their isolation and help them to develop friendships. Parents can benefit from speaking with other parents in similar situations, and siblings of young people with a disability can share their feelings and experiences with others.
The Government has allocated funding in the next financial year to establish three demonstration support programs to promote parent, sibling and peer networks. A total of $2.1 million has been allocated for seven demonstration projects, at $300,000 per project over three years. Tenders are to be advertised this month, with a view to the projects being operational from 1 January 2008. These demonstration projects will develop, test and implement flexible and innovative practices to address the needs of children and young people with a disability and their families. Two of these demonstration projects will be autism specific to ensure that children with autism and their families do not fall through the cracks. We know that without access to new and expanded services such as these kids could suffer significant social and economic problems. Through Stronger Together we will continue to provide more long-term help and practical support to children and families throughout the State. These projects are an important step in the Iemma Government's plan to improve the lives of children and young people with a disability and their families.
I know that there has been some community concern about a family who featured on the Channel 9 news last night, and I take this opportunity to thank the member for Burrinjuck, who has made representations to me on the family's behalf. Coalition members might like to listen as I am drawing attention to some effective representation on the part of the member for Burrinjuck. I am pleased to advise her that last month staff from the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care met with Mrs Marmont and her son Adam, and they will now be receiving both domestic and respite services. I thank the member for Burrinjuck for her effective representation on their behalf. However, I encourage the member for Burrinjuck to speak to her colleague the member for Goulburn about how best to represent her community in Parliament.
Mr Andrew Constance: Point of order—
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: As reported on the Channel 9 news last night—
The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will resume her seat. The House will come to order. What is the point of order?
Mr Andrew Constance: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. I had hoped that the Minister for Ageing, and Minister for Disability Services would stand before members of this House and—
The SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
Mr Andrew Constance: —apologise to Mrs Marmont, apologise for the 20 years that she has had no respite—
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Bega will resume his seat.
[ Interruption]
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Bega to order.
[Interruption]
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Bega to order for the second time.
[Interruption]
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Bega to order for the third time. If he repeats that behaviour he will be removed from the Chamber. The Minister has the call.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: That is not a surprising contribution from the member for Bega, who failed to tell the people of New South Wales before the last election what a Coalition government would do to support people with a disability, their families and their carers. His side of politics promised not one additional respite place, not one additional supported accommodation spot and not one additional day program. People with a disability and their families and carers know that this Government, through Stronger Together, will make an historic injection of funding—$1.3 billion—to support and strengthen families.
Given the policy vacuum that exists on the other side of the House, it is not surprising that the member for Goulburn does not know how to effectively represent her constituents. As reported on the Channel 9 news and in a letter that I received from Mrs Marmont, this is the advice that the member for Goulburn offered to Mrs Marmont, and I quote—
Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: Order! Government members will remain silent. What is the point of order?
Mr Adrian Piccoli: I refer you to Standing Order 129, which relates to relevance. The question was about what the Government is doing with respect to respite care, not what comments the member for Goulburn or anyone else may have made. Mr Speaker, on the first day of this parliamentary sitting you said that you would crack down on members abusing parliamentary privilege. You and I know that what the Minister is about to say is using cowards castle and the protection afforded by parliamentary privilege to make allegations against the member for Goulburn. Once those allegations are on the record it is too late to withdraw them. The Minister should give you a copy of any letter that she intends to read and obtain a ruling from you on whether it is in order.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Murrumbidgee will resume his seat. I remind the Minister that answers must be relevant to the questions asked. I understand the Minister is about to read from certain correspondence. Consistent with many other previous rulings, I will allow her to do so. I ask the Minister to comply with the standing orders. The Minister has the call.
Mr John Turner: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: I have just ruled on a point of order. Is it the same point of order?
Mr John Turner: It is a variation.
The SPEAKER: The member for Myall Lakes will state his point of order.
Mr John Turner: Point of order: If the Minister is about to read from a representation that was made to her or her department it is in direct contravention to a direction given by the Premier's office or the Cabinet office, I am not quite sure which, that representations made to Ministers must not be raised in this Parliament.
The SPEAKER: Order! I will seek advice from the Clerk before I rule on the point of order. The Minister is in order. A member may read from a letter as long as the author of the letter is clearly identified.
Mr Andrew Fraser: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: Does the member for Coffs Harbour seek to take a different point of order?
[ Interruption.]
The SPEAKER: Order! Members of the Government will remain silent.
Mr Andrew Fraser: I draw your attention to Standing Order No. 94, which states, "When a member rises on a point of order the member who is speaking shall be seated." I would ask you to draw the Minister's attention to that standing order.
The SPEAKER: Order! I recall clearly asking the Minister to resume her seat. The Minister has the call.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: As reported on Channel 9 news—
Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: Is this a different point of order?
Mr Adrian Piccoli: It is a different point of order. Last week, I believe in Parliament, the Minister for Police answered a question and made an attack on a member and it was ruled then that any attack must be made by way of substantive motion.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Murrumbidgee will resume his seat. The Minister is yet to read from the letter. The member for Murrumbidgee may have a crystal ball that allows him to know what the letter says, but I will allow the Minister to continue.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: I am getting my exercise today. And isn't it interesting that the member for Goulburn has not spoken in her own defence but has relied on the men on her side of the House to do it for her?
The SPEAKER: Order! It is Thursday and members are obviously keen to conclude question time. The remainder of this question time will be conducted in accordance with the standing orders. It is inappropriate for members to conduct themselves in the way they have. The Minister will conclude her answer when she has read the correspondence. Members will not take frivolous points of order merely to interrupt the flow of debate. Let us continue question time in the appropriate way.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: Is the member for Wakehurst taking a point of order after my ruling? What is the point of order?
Mr Brad Hazzard: You indicated you were going to deal with the House impartially. The Minister has just indicated to the other side—in defiance of your ruling, I might add—that we are defending the member for Goulburn. The Minister has indicated that the member for Goulburn has had others speaking in her defence. By implication that means that the Minister is attacking the member for Goulburn. She is in a funnel-web in a silk glove, but she has to address the issue by way of a substantive motion.
The SPEAKER: Order! I have heard enough. The member for Wakehurst will resume his seat. Before anyone is accused of attacking anyone else, I will hear further from the Minister.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: As reported last night on Channel 9 news and in a letter I received from Mrs Marmont, this is the advice that the member for Goulburn offered Mrs Marmont:
I went and saw Prue Goward, who told me to contact the police and tell them that if I do not get help for my son and myself I will kill him and then kill myself.
I have no reason to doubt the claim, but I would like to think there was some misunderstanding. To provide that kind of advice to a family that is clearly in distress is unacceptable.
Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: This is clearly an attack on a member of this House. If an attack like that is going to be made it has to be by way of substantive motion, because, as was once famously said here, she has not got the guts to take 15 steps outside and say it again.
The SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order. The Minister made reference to a report in the media about comments allegedly made outside the House. If the member has been reported correctly, she will need to justify that action, given the comments she allegedly made. I ask the Minister to remember that attacks on members should be done by substantive motion. I call on the Minister to conclude her answer.
Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: I would encourage the member for Goulburn to treat cases sensitively. In the future constituents should be put in touch with staff at the local agency of the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care Services. Alternatively, I would encourage the member for Goulburn to contact one of the eight government and non-government organisations that provide vital support and services to people with a disability living in Goulburn. I am certain her colleague the member for Burrinjuck can put her in contact with them. I want the member for Goulburn to know that my door is always open, as it is to all members of this Parliament who would like support and advice about how to best support people with a disability and their families in their local areas.
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