11. Question No. 11—Disability IssuesHon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister for Disability IssuesQuestion No. 11—Disability Issues11. Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister for Disability Issues: When did she receive the briefing titled Changes to Equipment and Modification Services and flexible funding to manage Whaikaha expenditure" and what actions did she take upon receiving the briefing?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS (Minister for Disability Issues): I received the briefing on 23 February 2024. I noted that Whaikaha was making changes which were needed to reduce its forecast deficit as recommended and as I have said multiple times these issues are inherited from the previous Labour Government and I am taking urgent steps to address the situation with a review. We have also put extra funding in to support Whaikaha through to the end of this financial year and we have signalled that Whaikaha will get more money in the next Budget.Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: How does she rationalise that with answers she gave in the House that suggest the first time she knew about the changes to reduce flexibility of disability support services was when she signed out a briefing on 14 March?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: I certainly received the briefing on 22 February that these were initiatives that Whaikaha was considering and then they confirmed on 14 March that they would be implementing those changes. They also informed me in that briefing that before implementing these changes Whaikaha had a comprehensive communications and engagement plan outlining the changes being implemented. They also said they had tailored messages for each audience focused on ensuring people needing disability support the most continued to receive support.Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Why did she only formally advise the finance Minister of eligibility changes that resulted from Whaikaha's funding shortfall on 20 March two days after the announcement was made and implemented as she has confirmed in written parliamentary questions No. 3593 and 3599?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: Because we were discussing Budget issues at that meeting on the 22nd.Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Why given she was first aware of the proposed changes on 22 or 23 February did it take her till 25 March to first go to Cabinet considering over 26000 carers have been impacted by these changes?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: Because in that paper on 22 February Whaikaha had outlined two initiatives that they were taking to reduce its projected deficit. They also outlined that they were working with Treasury to see if their bid for cost pressures could be considered early. Also in late February and late January Whaikaha had informed me that their updated forecast showed that they would be within 2 percent of the threshold which is manageable by me as a Minister and they were working to reduce it to a zero deficit.Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Is the Minister therefore saying that this time line is correct: that she first became aware of Whaikaha's funding issues on 15 December 2023 was briefed on proposed changes on 22 February signed out changes on 14 March the changes were then announced and implemented with immediate effect on 18 March but that she didn't act till 25 March?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: No. No I'm not saying that. I am saying that throughout this process Whaikaha were updating me on their financial situation. In January they updated me that they had reduced the deficit and they were working to bring it down to zero. In February they put forward initiatives that would further reduce the deficit. In March they weren't able to fulfil that reduction and therefore it was discussed at a budget meeting."