The Greens have called on the state government to explain what it will do support Tasmanians living with disability after the federal budget revealed $2 billion of the $6.4 billion underspend on the National Disability Insurance Scheme was the responsibility of the states.
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Greens leader and Disability Services spokeswoman Cassy O'Connor said the state government needs to commit to funding disability advocacy services in the upcoming state budget.
"Almost a third of the state's disability service providers operated at a loss last year," Ms O'Connor said.
"While providers are going broke, vital advocacy services will lose their funding in June this year.
"How can any government justify underspending on essential, life changing disability supports for Tasmanians who need them?
"The coalition government in Canberra is crowing about a 'surplus' built in significant part on the back of holding back money for the NDIS."
Minister for Disability Services Jacquie Petrusma said the government was providing $878.7 million in cash and in-kind supports over the forward estimates to deliver on its commitments to the NDIS.
"The NDIS is one of the biggest and most important reforms that Australia has ever seen, and the Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to seeing it fully delivered to people with disability in Tasmania," Ms Petrusma said.
"This is a once in a lifetime reform that will help to ensure a more equal and inclusive Tasmania.
"As the Commonwealth Treasurer has made clear, the 2019-2020 federal budget fully funds the NDIS, and both the Commonwealth and Hodgman governments are strong supporters of the NDIS and are fully committed to the roll-out as we transition to the full NDIS."