NDIS Changes, but fundamental flaws remain
14.03.13
Disability Speaks – MEDIA RELEASE: March 14th, 2013
The Government has released proposed changes to the NDIS legislation.
This rhetorical statement makes interesting reading.
The substance of such changes is difficult to ascertain given the mad rush in which this whole NDIS plan/legislation is being handled
Disability Speaks will provide more detailed information as it becomes available
In the meantime the once in a generation proposed NDIS remains:
• Fundamentally flawed with the Federal Government trying to force states to pay 50% of the $8.5 billion additional annual cost despite the Australian Productivity Commission strongly recommending against just such a federal/state shared approach which has failed miserably in the last 20 years
• Not agreed, with all but one state (NSW) yet to agree to any financial contribution agreement. The cost for SA would be in the order of $160 million per annum at a time when SA is having its finance rating downgraded due to burgeoning debt making full SA financial participation in NDIS very difficult and even unlikely.
• A long way away, with just a restricted pilot program starting this year but with full NDIS availability not likely to 2018 at the earliest for over 400,000 prospective participants many of whom are living in crisis as we speak.
• Eligibility for NDIS services, qualification criteria and level of service funding and availability yet to be decided. With some 1.8 million Australians having some form of disability many will be angered when they find they are NDIS ineligible as is happening now with people aged over 65. Such public outcry may lead to dilution of the program for the most needy for whom the program was originally intended.
• A dream for many within the disability sector that is in danger of being diminished as our Federal political leaders use NDIS as a political tactic
The Government release is below:
http://jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/node/2270?utm_source=Jenny+Macklin&utm_campaign=d40beedc4e-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email
Like many others in the Australian disability community we will continue to watch with concern and fear as both our political leaders fail to grasp the real challenge of NDIS and commit to an urgent and proper delivery.
Such an approach puts NDIS in jeopardy which would be a tragic outcome for many after decades of inadequate disability support and services.
