ANY push for Queensland to wear more NDIS related financial costs will be met with hostility Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has signalled, lashing out at the federal government over suggestions the states needed to “step up” as part of a reboot of the scheme.
Federal NDIS Minister Bill Shorten this week flagged a “reboot” of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which costs $34bn a year, saying the program had “lost its way” and was no longer delivering the results those on the scheme deserve.
In an address to the National Press Club on Tuesday, Mr Shorten outlined a plan to intensify the crackdown on fraud and unethical practices to ensure taxpayer funding goes to participants and not the pockets of criminals.
Mr Shorten also flagged the need for the states to “step up” and not “retreat” from their responsibilities to support people with disabilities.
The NDIS was meant to cost $34bn this financial year but actual costs are running higher, and the scheme is projected to cost $52bn by 2025/26—eclipsing the cost of both Medicare and aged care.
The scheme started as a jointly-funded program with a 50-50 split between the states and the federal government, but the agreement has led to the Commonwealth paying an increasing proportion over time.
The federal government currently covers 66 per cent of the cost.
Ms Palaszczuk, speaking in parliament, said she would not "stay silent" as the federal government pushes for the states to contribute more and accused the Commonwealth of pushing a redrawing of the cost share “without consultation”.
"We already look after some of the most complex cases of people with disabilities,” she said.
"The federal government needs to go back to the drawing board and look at how they are funding the NDIS."
Mr Shorten, in his Press Club address, pointed to the increasingly blurred lines between what is a responsibility of the NDIS and what should be done by state-based health services or initiatives and the cost shifting that’s occurred as a result.
“What I've tried to do is demonstrate the goodwill of the NDIS by sorting out the hospital bedblock, which is saving states hundreds of millions of dollars. But it's got to be a fair go all around.”
Annastacia Palaszczuk defends Yvette D'Ath in Question Time as LNP targets health issues
Annastacia Palaszczuk has fobbed off Opposition attacks on her Health Minister, rejecting claims it was time for Yvette D'Ath to be moved on.
The Opposition is putting the blow torch on health in Question Time on Tuesday, asking whether it's time for Yvette D'Ath to move out of the major portfolio.
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek asked Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk whether it was time for Ms D'Ath to go.
Ms Palaszczuk responded by saying "N-O".
It came after questions on ongoing maternity issues in Queensland regions, as well as recent revelations of serious concerns about the operation of the spinal unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
“If even a Queenslander of the Year and doctor can't get a response to his concerns about the PA spinal unit from this Health Minister, how can Queenslanders trust the Minister to fix the Queensland Health crisis?” Deputy Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie asked.
SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE QUESTION TIME BLOG
Earlier, Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles said government had been forced to abandon one of its key urgent accommodation solutions, pulling the pin on transforming Griffith University student accommodation into emergency housing.
Mr Miles said an alternative arrangement has already been struck to replace the failed initiative through the purchase of 64 properties to be used as social housing.
He said the initial deal, which Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced as an “urgent” solution in September when she convened the Housing Summit, had become unfeasible given the mounting costly issues associated with the transformation.
$25 million will be invested to purchase the existing dwellings, which is a mix of houses and apartments across the state.
“After consulting with Queensland’s leading housing advocacy group, QShelter, we’ve made the decision to purchase homes directly on the private market, to get more people into accommodation quicker,” Mr Miles said.
“We haven’t taken this decision lightly. Many Queenslanders, who have never experienced housing stress before, are struggling and we are committed to doing as much as we can.
“Unforeseen challenges at the Griffith site means that this is simply a better, faster outcome for vulnerable Queenslanders across the state.”
At the time of the September announcement, Mr Miles thanked Griffith University for the proposal, saying the government would “work quickly” to get the facility up and running.
But More than six months later, the government has abandoned the plan saying costs to bring the site up to scratch to satisfy building laws and codes made the project unfeasible.
It is understood the bushland surrounding the accommodation require heightened bushfire protection measures to be followed.
A spokeswoman for the Deputy Premier told The Courier-Mail the replacement properties stretch from Atherton in the far north to sites in South East Queensland.
Updates
Palaszczuk slams Shorten in NDIS cost spray
No, no, it's not time to go: Premier says of Health Minister
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek's turn, and he asks the Premier whether it's time to move on the Health Minister from her portfolio.
Ms Palaszczuk couldn't be clearer on this – saying "N – O."
– Stephanie Bennett
“How can Queenslanders trust the Minister to fix the health crisis?”
After a flood of questions directed at the Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie has asked directly how the state can trust her to fix the growing list of major issues.
Among those listed were the maternity issues across regional centres, the DNA bungle and the recent explosive allegations about the spinal injuries unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
“If even a Queenslander of the Year and doctor can't get a response to his concerns about the PA spinal unit from this Health Minister, how can Queenslanders trust the Minister to fix the Queensland Health crisis?” Mr Bleijie asked pointedly.
Ms D’Ath again said she had spoken regularly with Queenslander of the Year, Dr Dinesh Palipana, and reiterated her commitment to repair issues at the PA unit.
She also rebuked the strategies by the Opposition who she accused of spreading false information about the closures, by-passes or other operational circumstances at maternity services across the state.
“It is shameful that they would do that” and they must “apologise”, Ms D’Ath said.
“Apologise to the women who are expecting children and are going to be birthing at those hospitals,” she said.
– James Hall
Maternity units
Former LNP leader and Nanago MP Deb Frecklington's turn to have a swipe at Ms D'Ath now.
She says there are less than 40 maternity services fully operational in Queensland, and wants to know if the Minister can guarantee no more will be closed.
A fired-up Health Minister says she can only interpret that question as the LNP saying she should ignore clinical advice on how services are operating.
"So if the clinicians say it is unsafe (to operate) because we have an obstetrician who is not available – I should say no?" she says.
D'Ath spins now into a spiel of figures into how many less health workers the state would have had the LNP remained in power – those cuts under former Premier Campbell Newman are never far from being pulled out by the government.
– Stephanie Bennett
"Rubbish!!": D'Ath rejects maternity ward shutdown allegations
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath is under the microscope this morning in Question Time.
In response to a question from Central Queensland-based LNP member Bryson Head about the closures of maternity wards, she said there was just one facility that was closed.
She initially said this was Kingaroy, but then had to correct herself and confirm that the reduced maternity services was in Nambour.
Ms D’Ath said this closure was due to services being relocated into a major new hospital on the Sunshine Coast, which she said was the advice of doctors and health experts.
During her response, tempers are flaring on the floor of parliament with calls of “rubbish!!” from the Opposition.
“Those are the decisions made to keep the community safe and to ensure that expectant mums can birth their babies with the appropriate level of care and support that is needed,” the Health Minister said.
“We put doctors and nurses in charge but when doctors and nurses make decisions, they (the Opposition) criticise them.”
– James Hall
Question Time begins
Question Time has kicked off today, and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has Health Minister Yvette D'Ath in his sights first.
He wants to know how many Queensland maternity services have been on time at any time since July last week.
For context – this question comes after a recent question on notice to the Minister where she essentially said it would be too time-consuming to offer up that detailed information.
Ms D'Ath says she does not get notified of every bypass – adding that some are only for a few hours due to illness or a sudden unavailability of an obstetrician.
"(The Leader of the Opposition) would rather just play cheap politics and get headlines on these issues," she says.
Crisafulli doubles down with his second question – maternity issues in Queensland hospitals have been a favourite pressure point of the Opposition and today looks to be no exception.
He claims emails have shown the Minister receives notification every time a bypass occurs – something Ms D'ath outright rejects.
"The information provided in relation to the question on notice is accurate," she says.
She says the protocol doesn't require her to approve every bypass.
– Stephanie Bennett
Princess Alexandra spinal injuries unit relocation and redevelopment floated
A BELEAGUERED spinal injuries hospital unit may be relocated while a major development of the ward is undertaken Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has revealed.
And one of Queensland Health’s top bureaucrats has been tasked with looking into the models of care provided to people with spinal injuries at Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services.
It comes after whistleblowers revealed paralysed patients have been left to lie in their own faeces, sit naked in front of other patients and been subjected to aggressive bowel treatments at the state’s main spinal injury unit.
Several former patients and 2021 Queenslander of the Year Dinesh Palipana, who is an emergency doctor, alleged neglect and degradation at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Queensland Health chief operating officer Dr David Rosengren will lead the evaluation, which includes the “potential relocation” of the Princess Alexandra Spinal Injuries Unit (SIU) is moved to the Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) at Herston.
“This process would allow Metro South Hospital and Health Service and Queensland Health the timeframe necessary to develop the business case and deliver on the redevelopment of the Spinal Injuries Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital,” Ms D’Ath said.
“If this was the approach recommended by Dr Rosengren, Brisbane would have two Tertiary Spinal rehabilitation Units in the South East of the state and one located in Townsville.
“In order to guide this work, I have asked that a stakeholder working group be convened to ensure that we are appropriately informed of the lived experiences of patients and staff.”
Premier addresses spate of dog attacks
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has told parliament she was "horrified" by a spate of horrific dog attacks in the state last week, which included three children being seriously injured.
"Enough is enough," she said.
"The onus is on dog owners, they have a duty of care and they must accept responsibility for their pets and their pets' behaviors."
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed the dangerous dog laws taskforce, chaired by Agriculture Minister Mark Furner, would meet at parliament on Wednesday to discuss reforms to the laws.
"The people of Queensland are concerned, and I hear and understand and share their concerns," she said.
"They want these attacks to stop and so do I."
Mr Furner was expected to give an update following the taskforce meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
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