HANSARD FROM THURSDAY 17 MARCH
DISABILITY SERVICES - ESKLEIGH HOME FUNDING
[11.21 a.m.]
Ms PETRUSMA (Question) - My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Minister, just over a month ago on 8 February 2011 your department indicated in writing that it would provide extra recurrent funding to the Eskleigh home at Perth in northern Tasmania to meet a projected deficit in 2010-11. Is it a fact that because of your government's mismanagement of the State's finances you have now reneged in that written commitment which places this home, the only nursing facility for younger persons in Tasmania, in significant financial difficulty? Are you aware that as a result of this backflip, Eskleigh will have to reduce services? Are you also aware that this will mean that long-term patients in hospital beds at the Launceston General Hospital who are awaiting transfer to Eskleigh will now have to remain in hospital at a significantly higher cost to Tasmanian taxpayers?
Ms O'CONNOR - I thank the shadow minister for her question and her ongoing interest in this area. I am aware, and I have been up to Eskleigh and I have met Dale Luttrell and I have walked through that excellent facility, but there are funding issues with Eskleigh and there is an ongoing conversation between my department and Eskleigh Home over their funding shortfall. There is a history of funding issues with Eskleigh Home and they provide quite a specific and excellent service to people living with disabilities. But my very clear understanding is that the department is currently working with Eskleigh to address some of those funding issues. I would say this: the Disabilities Services budget is continually stretched. We provide $156 million a year to service providers and many of them are under some strain because the demand is increasing for services. My very clear understanding is that the department is continuing to work with Eskleigh on their funding issues. Again, I thank you for your interest in this area.
DISABILITY SERVICES - ESKLEIGH HOME FUNDING
[11.21 a.m.]
Ms PETRUSMA (Question) - My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Minister, just over a month ago on 8 February 2011 your department indicated in writing that it would provide extra recurrent funding to the Eskleigh home at Perth in northern Tasmania to meet a projected deficit in 2010-11. Is it a fact that because of your government's mismanagement of the State's finances you have now reneged in that written commitment which places this home, the only nursing facility for younger persons in Tasmania, in significant financial difficulty? Are you aware that as a result of this backflip, Eskleigh will have to reduce services? Are you also aware that this will mean that long-term patients in hospital beds at the Launceston General Hospital who are awaiting transfer to Eskleigh will now have to remain in hospital at a significantly higher cost to Tasmanian taxpayers?
Ms O'CONNOR - I thank the shadow minister for her question and her ongoing interest in this area. I am aware, and I have been up to Eskleigh and I have met Dale Luttrell and I have walked through that excellent facility, but there are funding issues with Eskleigh and there is an ongoing conversation between my department and Eskleigh Home over their funding shortfall. There is a history of funding issues with Eskleigh Home and they provide quite a specific and excellent service to people living with disabilities. But my very clear understanding is that the department is currently working with Eskleigh to address some of those funding issues. I would say this: the Disabilities Services budget is continually stretched. We provide $156 million a year to service providers and many of them are under some strain because the demand is increasing for services. My very clear understanding is that the department is continuing to work with Eskleigh on their funding issues. Again, I thank you for your interest in this area.
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