Students with a disability last under Labor in SA
Feb 20, 2012
John Gardner MP
Shadow Minister for Families & Communities
Shadow Minister for Housing
Shadow Minister for Disability
Shadow Minister for Youth
Students with a disability last under Labor in SA
Figures in the Gonski Review of Funding for Schooling released today reveal a humiliating disparity between support provided for students with a disability in South Australia and the rest of Australia, according to Shadow Minister for Disability John Gardner.
“According to the Gonski Review’s figures, the average funding for students with a disability in government schools in South Australia in 2009-10 was $4,808 per student,” Mr Gardner said.
“Other states support disabled students by up to eight times as much – $13,244 per student in NSW, $19,800 per student in Victoria, $20,233 per student in WA, and $41,817 per student in Tasmania, compared to less than $5,000 per student here.
“After a decade of this Labor Government, Premier Weatherill and his Cabinet should hang their heads in shame for this humiliating failure.
“This sort of support is critical – money spent on early intervention and support during education can add enormously to an individual’s capacity to work productively later in life and significantly reduce dependence upon acute care.
“To make matters worse, Premier Weatherill bears more responsibility for these poor results than anyone else, being the longest serving Minister for Disability over the course of this Labor Government.
“Today’s figures follow January’s Productivity Commission findings that South Australia’s general support for people with a disability is far less than the national average.
“When the Government responded to Monsignor Cappo’s report into disability services in December, they failed to commit so much as one cent towards improved services.
“The time for motherhood statements and false promises is over – Minister for Disability and Social Inclusion Ian Hunter must ensure that this sector is prioritised urgently in this year’s Budget.
“South Australians living with a disability deserve better.”