Christian Democratic Senate team leader for New South Wales Pastor Paul Green and Party Leader Reverend the Hon Fred Nile MLC have announced CDP policy for improving the arrangements for caring for disabled children.

1. As much as we would like to consider some sort of retirement complex scenario for disabled children, we don't believe this is currently feasible due to the wide variety of needs that are associated with caring for disabled children

 2. We believe the best model is the establishment of small cluster groups set up in the local area or as close as possible to that area to which the clients are familiar and which would cater for small groups of clients with similar abilities and needs

3. To accomplish this, a massive injection of funding is required to start up new permanent residences and expand existing respite facilities

4. The CDP would push for an immediate injection of $1 billion to be granted to get this underway and on top of this we would push for an arrangement with the State Governments for the Federal Government to match them $1 for $1 in maintaining these facilities. This amount should not be an excuse to reduce existing disability budgets

5. There should not be any restriction based on parental age to qualify for entry to these facilities as qualification must always be assessed on individual need (eg parents who themselves are physically disabled or need to go in to hospital)

6. An independent board would be established to set up actual criteria and assess applications and oversee the establishment and maintenance needs of these facilities, which would be run by fully assessed and qualified service providers.