ATTACHMENT E

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Fiom the office of BOE KU(ERA Api{ Jp MLA , \4INtrSTER =OR SPORT & RICRIATIC}N DISAITIT ITY S[ItVICES CITIZTNS}.I IP & MULTICUTTLJRAT INT’IITISTS SENIOIS & VOLOITEERINC Our ref: 00068 ’* o“’r’ilr3:f;iiHr1i:i West Perth WA 6005 Ph: (08) 9213 7000 Fax: (08) 9213 7001 Mr Brian O’Hart f mai[: bob-kucera@dpc.wa.gov.au

Dear Mr O’Hart Thank you for fonruarding a copy of your letter to the Australian Government Minister for Family and Community Services regarding the comparative levels of funding ts the States and Territories under the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement {CSIDA). The inequitable funding of jurisdictions under the CSTDA has been the subject of much discussion for successive agreements. Prior to 1992, the Ausiralian Government funded service growth and development on the basis of individual organisational application without taking into account relative service coverage or target populations across jurisdictions. This ad hoc funding approach resulted in great variaticn in the recurrent funding levels of Australian States and Territories. When the first CSTDA was signed there was a rationalisation of funding responsibilities and States and Territories gave the Ausiralian Government all funds associated with employment programs and the Australian Government gave the States and Territories funds associated wiUr other servicesl. This ationalisation showed for the first time the’over’ funding of South Australia and Tasmania and the relative’under-funding’of Western Australia,

Broadty Western Australia has 8olo of CSTDA funds but has 100/o of the target population. The Australian Government and all other States and Territories acknowledged this inequity prior to the re-negotiation of the third CSTDA and agreed to develop a formula that would allocate a proporlion of growth funds to gradually correct the funding imb,alance. While the development of such a formula wa$ attempted the Australian Government stipulated a requirement that all other States and Territories agree to its application. To date agreement has not been reached. The Grants commission through which csrDA funding is distributed, takes into account Specific Purpose Payments (CSIDA funding payments) and adjusts General Purpose Payments to the States and Territories accordingly. These Iatter payments, however are made to the Department of Treasury not to the Disability Services Cornmission.

The continuing inequity of CSTDA funding for Western Australia is an area of concern to me and I will continue and intensify previous efforts to address this imbalance and get a better funding outcome for Westem Australians with a disability. Thank you again for your interest in this matter and for bringing to my attention the inequity in current funding armngements. I assure you of my similar concerns in this area.

Yours sincerely

           ,P MLA
    FOR SPORT AilD RECREATION; DISABILITY SERVICES;

CITIZENSH IP AND MULTICULTUML IIITERESTS; SENIORS AilD VOLUNTEERS