PREMIER Ted Baillieu has accused Prime Minister Julia Gillard of trying to delay a deal on a Victorian trial of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
State and federal government officials have been wrangling over details of a $42 million proposal from Victoria for a trial of the scheme, which would cover 5000 people living with disabilities in the Barwon region, based on Geelong, from the middle of next year.
Mr Baillieu said it was unclear why the Prime Minister had not committed to a Barwon trial.
He said Victoria had put more than enough money on the table and had been asked to provide more details than other state governments that had won approval for trials.
Mr Baillieu suggested the federal government was stalling because it did not want a Barwon trial to start next year. ''If the Prime Minister has changed her mind and does not want a trial in the Barwon region she should say so now,'' he said.
''The Prime Minister is seeking to delay, and delay, and delay, on this issue.''
Federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said she wanted the Barwon trial to start as soon as possible.
She said Victoria had been asked for additional information, which had been provided just before Mr Baillieu held a news conference yesterday.
''Australian government officials will immediately consider this additional information and assess whether the Victorian offer meets requirements for an agreement,'' Ms Macklin said.
The federal government wants the state to fund $20,779 for each person with a disability covered by the trial, with both sides debating whether Victoria's $42 million offer meets the threshold.
