Show Your STRENGTH Rally
Latest news
Premier commits an additional $2 billion to Stronger Together
3 December, 2010
Premier Keneally today announced an additional $2 billion for Stronger Together – taking the total additional Stronger Together investment into disability services in NSW over ten years to over $5 billion.
NDS Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Maher, congratulated the Premier, Minister Primrose and the NSW Government for their commitment to people with disability, their families and carers, “Today’s unprecedented announcement delivers on the promises made at the Show Your Strength Rally for Stronger Together in October and establishes a firm platform from which we can continue to operate”.
“By continuing and growing on the momentum created under the first five year phase of Stronger Together, the NSW Government’s announcement of an additional $2.02 billion over the next five years signals their clear commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” Mr Maher said.
The additional funding of $2.02 billion for the second phase of Stronger Together is on top of the recurrent $404 million per year recurrent from the first five year phase. When added to the initial $1.3 billion committed in 2006, this equates to a significant additional investment of over $5.52 billion into disability services over the ten year lifespan of Stronger Together by the NSW Government. This is over and above the annual budget for disability in NSW – a commitment unmatched and unprecedented in Australia.
“NDS will work closely with Ageing, Disability and Home Care and all stakeholders to ensure smooth and equitable implementation and support the sector’s preparedness to deliver on the impressive targets set.”
With a state election in March next year, Mr Maher also congratulated the NSW Opposition on their commitment to maintain the initiative announced today. Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance are reported on SMH Online as saying that disability would not turn it into a contested election issue. In addition, Constance stated that the Opposition are determined to build on the disability service system to be more proactive, equitable and accountable. This display of bipartisan support secures the future of disability beyond electoral cycles and is to be commended.
Mr Maher went on to say that state-based funding of this significance for disability is however not sustainable. “Australia needs a National Disability Insurance Scheme and as a sector we must continue to work together with the view to this being implemented by the end of 2016, if not before. Through Stronger Together, NSW is well placed for this transition.”
The Productivity Commission is currently investigating the feasibility of a National Disability Insurance Scheme, with former NSW Disability Services Minister and initiator of Stronger Together John Della Bosca, recently appointed by the National Disability Alliance to lead a unified campaign supporting its implementation.
Your STRENGTH on Show
28 October, 2010
The Show your STRENGTH Rally on 28 October was a huge success. Over 2,500 people from across NSW filled the Sydney Opera House Forecourt to give our State’s political leaders a clear message to make the commitment to fund Stronger Together.
In a rare display of agreement amongst our State’s political leaders, both Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell attended the rally and spoke in favour of continued funding for Stronger Together. While a specific funding announcement was not made, the Premier committed to deliver an answer before the end of 2010.
A broad range of speakers from across the disability sector spoke about the many issues facing people with disability, their families and their carers in NSW, and the need for greater funding certainty. The crowd was vocal and colourful and clearly displayed the strength of the disability sector to the many media representatives in attendance.
Thank you to all those who made the effort to attend the Rally. Without your commitment we would not have been able secure a bipartisan agreement from our State’s political leaders on the need for Stronger Together to continue.
Updates and future announcements relating to Stronger Together will be posted onto this website and our Facebook page over the coming weeks, so that everyone who supported the Rally is kept informed.
Photos on this website are copyrighted to National Disability Services (NDS) NSW.
This website is made possible with the support of Langoor.
Friday 3 December, 2010
Premier commits an additional $2 billion to Stronger Together
Premier Keneally today announced an additional $2 billion for Stronger Together – taking the total additional Stronger Together investment into disability services in NSW over ten years to over $5 billion.
NDS Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Maher, congratulated the Premier, Minister Primrose and the NSW Government for their commitment to people with disability, their families and carers, “Today’s unprecedented announcement delivers on the promises made at the Show Your Strength Rally for Stronger Together in October and establishes a firm platform from which we can continue to operate”.
“By continuing and growing on the momentum created under the first five year phase of Stronger Together, the NSW Government’s announcement of an additional $2.02 billion over the next five years signals their clear commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” Mr Maher said.
The additional funding of $2.02 billion for the second phase of Stronger Together is on top of the recurrent $404 million per year recurrent from the first five year phase. When added to the initial $1.3 billion committed in 2006, this equates to a significant additional investment of over $5.52 billion into disability services over the ten year lifespan of Stronger Together by the NSW Government. This is over and above the annual budget for disability in NSW – a commitment unmatched and unprecedented in Australia.
“NDS will work closely with Ageing, Disability and Home Care and all stakeholders to ensure smooth and equitable implementation and support the sector’s preparedness to deliver on the impressive targets set.”
With a state election in March next year, Mr Maher also congratulated the NSW Opposition on their commitment to maintain the initiative announced today. Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance are reported on SMH Online as saying that disability would not turn it into a contested election issue. In addition, Constance stated that the Opposition are determined to build on the disability service system to be more proactive, equitable and accountable. This display of bipartisan support secures the future of disability beyond electoral cycles and is to be commended.
Mr Maher went on to say that state-based funding of this significance for disability is however not sustainable. “Australia needs a National Disability Insurance Scheme and as a sector we must continue to work together with the view to this being implemented by the end of 2016, if not before. Through Stronger Together, NSW is well placed for this transition.”
The Productivity Commission is currently investigating the feasibility of a National Disability Insurance Scheme, with former NSW Disability Services Minister and initiator of Stronger Together John Della Bosca recently appointed by the National Disability Alliance to lead a unified campaign supporting its implementation.