29 May 2005

Hon Pete Hodgson Associate Minister of Health

$59 million for disability support services

Associate Health Minister Pete Hodgson today announced an additional $59 million in 2005-06 for residential disability support services and the provision of assessments.

An additional $29.6 million will be added to baseline funding for disability support services to cover demographic and inflation related adjustments.

The remainder of the money will be allocated across three main areas: $14.4 million for Kimberley Centre residents $8.4 million for younger people needing residential disability care, and $6.6 million to improve Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC).

"This is a comprehensive funding boost for disability support services. It will help bring stability to the sector and allow for investment in improving the quality and level of provision," Mr Hodgson said.

ENDS

John Minto: Supercity contracts out democracy to the private sector

The dangers in the ACT/National coalition agreement are becoming clearer by the day.

The agreement goes well past maximising ACT’s 3.5% electoral support. As part of the arrangement ACT Leader Rodney Hide got himself one of the most influential cabinet roles as Minister of Local Government ahead of the development of the so-called Auckland supercity.

Up till now the focus on democracy has been how the councillors will be elected. Firstly ACT vetoed guaranteed Maori representation on the council but supported the proposal for eight councillors to be elected at large alongside just 12 elected from local wards. More>>