Fri, 9th May 2008

Disabled handed broken promises and spin

Senator Cory Bernardi
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families & Community Services

The Rudd Government has neglected the disabled by failing to stand up to Labor State and Territory Governments, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services Senator Cory Bernardi said today.

Senator Bernardi said the further extension of the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) is an admission of failure from the Rudd Government and is a kick in the stomach to those who are already down.

“The Rudd Government has broken its promise to fast-track negotiations of a new CSTDA agreement. It has fallen prey to the Labor States and Territories’ inability to negotiate,” said Senator Bernardi.

“Bill Shorten’s claim that ‘you can’t fix up 11 years of neglect by rushing’ (‘Pact with Egypt will resume cattle trade’ Sydney Morning Herald, 9/05/08) is a clumsy attempt to blame the former government and only highlights the failure of the State and Territory Labor Governments to provide adequate disability services.

“Let’s not forget that it was the Labor State and Territory Ministers who walked out on CSTDA negotiations after only 30 minutes with the full support of their federal comrades.

“Labor’s promise of cooperative federalism has been exposed as a complete farce.

“The re-announcement of a $1 billion funding package last week was a smokescreen to cover up the Rudd Government’s failure to negotiate a new CSTDA agreement.

“Compared to the Coalition, Rudd has promised less money with less accountability.

“The Labor State and Territories have a history of failing to meet the needs of the disabled, handing over control of the funding will just mean more of the same neglect.”