Haggle dashes hopes of NDIS jobs for city

BY JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG has missed out on a National Disability Insurance Scheme launch site amid federal and state disagreement on a $43.5 million funding gap.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the Federal Government would establish launch sites in South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
“Each of those jurisdictions stepped forward and put money on the table and agreed to work with the Commonwealth on shared arrangements,” Ms Gillard said.
“I’m disappointed we have not been able to strike an agreement with New South Wales or Victoria.”
Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and New South Wales counterpart Barry O’Farrell made a joint submission proposing the Barwon and Hunter regions for launch sites.
The Barwon site would have been worth $200 million and 130 jobs.
Ms Gillard said Geelong would have received $100 million in federal funding. The Commonwealth had asked Victoria for a “relatively small” extra contribution, she said.
Mr Baillieu said he was still wanted an NDIS trial in Geelong.
“We have some concerns about the response we received from the Federal Government,” he said.
“We’ll assess the response and continue the discussions but we couldn’t reach a position on it today.
“We want a resolution but need to make a fair assessment.”
Corangamite Labor MP Darren Cheeseman was “bitterly disappointed”.
“The Victorian Liberal Government prevented 5000 people with disability in the region from accessing better care and support through the NDIS.
“This could be a great moment of celebration for Geelong (but) Ted Baillieu has turned his back on people with disabilities. He was only asked to contribute $43.5 million over three years to secure $100 million in new funding, all of it going into the delivery of better disability services.”
Corio Labor MP Richard Marles said the outcome was “enormously frustrating”.
“There are 5000 people with disabilities in our region who will go to bed tonight without any resolution,” Mr Marles said.
The failure could also set back Geelong’s hopes of hosting an NDIS national headquarters, he said.