ATTACHMENT B

1 March 2005

Senator The Hon. KaY Patterson Minister for Family and Community Services Suite MG 60 Parliament House GANBERRA AGT 2600 Re: The Gommonwealth statefferritory Disability Agreement Dear Senator Patterson As a parent of a 38-year-old daughter, with intellectual disability, and as a person who assists support gtorp* iot intelleltually-disabled people, I fail to comprehend the manner in which funds are allocated under the CSTDA’ on perusing the figures allocated for the 2oo4 - 05 year, (see attached data), I note the following: $63m to South Australia’ which is {8% mPre 1. The Commonwealth contributes t than the amount of g45m that it contributes to Western Australia, while at the same time, m less than 2. The South Australian Government contributes $137m, which is fl% t the amount of g21Bm that the Western Australian Government contributes to the overall care of its disabled citizens’ While I have given considerabte thought to how such a disparity could be arrived at through ,p““iti. formjlae, negotiations etc,- l im still at a total loss as to why such a huge variation in funding exists between the two States’ Trusting that you will be able to inform me as to why such a situation exists’ Yours sincerelY Brian O’Hart Hon. Jan Mclucas, MP, Shadow Minister, Ageing, Disabilities and Carers C.c” Senator, Hon. Mr K Beazley, MP, Federal Labor Leader Hon.MsSMcHale,MLA,Minister,WADisabilityServices Dr G Gallop, MLA, Premier, Western Australia Hon. Mr S’O’,Brien, MLC, Shadow Minister, wA Disability services