Program 1.8: Assistance to the States for disability services
Program objective
The objective of program 1.8 is:
- the Government provides financial support for the States and Territories to be spent in the delivery of disability services.
This program also has links to the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
Program deliverables
The program objective is:
- payments to the States and Territories are made according to the payment arrangements specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Key performance indicators
The key performance indicators are:
- the Commonwealth Treasury will transfer to each State and Territory the amounts of their monthly and annual entitlements under the National Disability Services SPP and will make the payments on the dates specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement;
- the Commonwealth Treasury will provide advice to the States and Territories on the components of each payment prior to each payment being made; and
- the States and Territories are required to spend the National Disability Services SPP in the disability services sector. Each State and Territory Treasurer will provide a report to demonstrate expenditure of the National Disability Services SPP within the disability services sector in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement. The Commonwealth Treasury will review these reports provided by the States and Territories.
Analysis of performance
The Treasury facilitated the Government’s 2011-12 financial support for the States and Territories in the delivery of disability services.
- Payments under the National Disability SPP were $1.2 billion.
- All payments were accurately determined and made in a timely manner in accordance with the payment arrangements specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement.
- Advice was provided to the States and Territories prior to each payment being made.
To demonstrate that the National Disability SPP has been spent in the relevant sector, each State and Territory will provide a report to the Standing Council within six months of 30 June 2012, disclosing relevant information in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement.
It should be noted that, from 2011-12, an adjustment is made to the National Disability SPP to ensure that the changes to Commonwealth and State roles and responsibilities for aged care and disability services, as part of the National Health Reform arrangements, are budget neutral for all jurisdictions (excluding Victoria and Western Australia, who are not participating in these changed arrangements) through until the end of 2013-14.