ATTACHMENT D

Australian Government Department of Famity and Community Services Box 77BB Canberra Mait Centre ACT 2610 Telephone 1300653227 Try 1800 26A 402 Facsimile 0262M 5907 E-mail Mr Brian O’Hart www.facs.gov.au

deep Mr O’Hart Thank you for your letter of 28 February 2005 to the Minister for Family and Communit, Services, Senatorthe Honkay Patterson, about disparities in funding under the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement;;;;ffi;nts tcsi6nl. The Minister has asked me to reply to your letter on her behalf’ The Australian Govemment acknowledges there are disparities in its provision of funds to states and ierritories. This is a-result of the pattern of outlays at the time of popuration-based distribution ofthe first commonweitth state Disabirity Agreement. additional funding under the second ano tr iro Agreements has reduced the degree of inequity between states, but this is a slow process’ The Australian Government will respect any consensus,position developed by the state and territory governments on irow it should redistribute existing funds’ byio means while there are disparities in Australian Government outlays, they are if,“ ,“ior factor in bverall disparities in outlays by states and territories’ The difference netween aong state and territory ouilays is greater than the anomaly in Australian Government outlaYs’ The Australian Government remains very concerned for the needs of people with disabilities and their families. lt is providlng a substantial funding contribution to ,i”“, and territories towards meeting their responsibjlities, and requiring them to make similar efforts. Under the current csTDA, the Australian Government has yran $2.g biilion over five years to assist states and territory provide committed more services in their ur”r of responsibility, This is in addition to the nearly $2’1 hillion orl. iir“ years which it has committed towards iupported employment seruices for people with disabilities. once again, thank you for writing. I hope that my comments are of assistance’

Branch Manager Disability and Carers Branch

2005 F March

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