Fed: Govt receives new report on disabilities

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2009
Fed: Govt receives new report on disabilities

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - Developers should receive extra government money to build affordable
housing for people with disabilities, a new report recommends.

Governments should also contribute $30 million a year to develop policy direction for the sector.

Funding savings plans for family members of people with disabilities, along with removing
the taxes on goods and services for people in care, were other suggestions in the Disability
Investment Group report.

The group calls for a feasibility study into a no-fault disability insurance scheme,
for which the government has flagged support.

Federal Families Minister Jenny Macklin says the findings would assist the design of
a national disability strategy, which is due to be up and running mid-2010.

"The government recognises the need to look at how we can better support people with
disability over the long-term," she said in a statement, citing recent data that shows
the number of people with a severe disability will double to 2.3 million by 2030.

The Productivity Commission's inquiry into a Medicare-style disability insurance scheme
is due to be completed by mid 2011.

AAP sld/rl/dep

KEYWORD: DISABILITY REPORT

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