A majority Gutwein Liberal Government will continue to provide significant support for the state’s disability sector and vulnerable Tasmanians.

This will include establishing a Tasmanian Disability Services Commissioner, for continuous improvement in delivery of services for people with disability, with an investment of $1.2 million over four years. This will ensure people with disability and their families receive the inclusive and accessible support services they need, including those supported through mainstream services.

We will also invest $1.4 million over four years to boost the Tasmanian Autism Diagnosis Service, with three additional assessors to meet demand. Autism represents over 30 per cent of all Tasmanian NDIS participants and with face to face assessments required to complete the assessment process, there is an ongoing need to attract more allied health professionals to the service. We acknowledge the value of early intervention for children with disability, and this investment will mean more children with autism and their families will have access to earlier assessment, improving wellbeing outcomes.

We remain committed to continuing our investment of more than $1 million in annual funding for independent advocacy organisations, including Speakout Advocacy, Advocacy Tas and the Association for Children with Disability to ensure that people with disability can enjoy the same rights as anyone else.

Our Government will also provide ongoing funding of $150,000 over three years to Paraquad Tasmania to continue its Physical disability Sports Programs, delivering quality, low cost sport and recreation programs to Tasmanians with disability.

Tasmania has reached its full NDIS roll-out and is now supporting more than 10,000 participants, and this year we will invest $254 million as Tasmania’s contribution to the Scheme, increasing to $276.6 million in 2022-23.

We have already committed over $100 million over the next four years in supports and initiatives to directly or indirectly benefit people with disability.

Only a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government has a clear plan to support our state’s most vulnerable and secure Tasmania’s future.

Our full policy is available here.