May 16, 2017
Two well-known South Burnett residents were mentioned in Federal Parliament recently during a debate on the Federal Budget.
Member for Maranoa David Littleproud drew attention to the work of South Burnett CTC CEO Nina Temperton and SBcare CEO Cheryl Dalton.
He was speaking in favour of the proposed 0.5 per cent increase in the Medicare levy to help fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
From Hansard:
“I would say that there is no Australian in this nation who would not be in support of a 0.5 per cent increase in the Medicare levy to support those people that we need to protect,” Mr Littleproud said.
“That is the fairness that each and every one of us should be supporting.
“We should support the $200 million that we are going to put in to help those great professionals that are out there across this nation building the workforce to support those with disabilities.
“That is what you should come in here and support.
“You should be supporting the Cheryl Daltons of this world. She is with SBcare in Kingaroy.
“You should support the Nina Templetons (sic) of this world. She is with South Burnett CTC. I have met with her.
“I have sat in their offices with their staff and with their patients and listened to their heart-wrenching stories and about the support that they provide.
“Those professionals need the support of a fully funded NDIS. Forget the politics; forget the vitriol; this is about real people’s lives.
“It is not about the next election. Think about that and think about the people who have these disabilities. Go and look them in the eye and give them a fully funded NDIS.”
Under the Federal Government’s Budget plan, the NDIS would be funded by a 2.5 per cent Medicare levy (up from 2 per cent) which the government says would raise $8.2 billion over three years from 2018.
