Hands off the NDIS: Australian Cross Disability Alliance

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Published: 2016-03-09 - Updated: 2021-09-08
Author: Australian Cross Disability Alliance | Contact: pwd.org.au
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Library of Related Papers: Australia and New Zealand Publications

Synopsis: Reports that Australian Federal Government is considering changes to funding and governance of NDIS have alarmed people with disability. Contrary to recent speculation and reporting, the NDIS is on budget, on time and delivering overdue change in the lives of people with disability across Australia. The Australian Cross Disability Alliance is an alliance of four national Disabled People's Organisations made up of and led by people with disability.

Main Digest

Media reports that the Federal Government is considering major changes to the funding and governance of the NDIS, have alarmed people with disability, families and advocates across Australia.

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The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a healthcare program initiated by the Australian government for Australians with a disability. The bill was introduced into Australian parliament in November 2012. The NDIS replaces the existing system with an approach based on an entitlement to support people with disability. Through the NDIS, people with disability will be able to access the reasonable and necessary supports they need, to live the life they want and achieve their goals and aspirations. Nearly half a million Australians will be covered by the scheme when it is fully operational in 2019.

"The NDIS has had support across political parties and all levels of government to date. Any watering down of the NDIS or a Commonwealth takeover of the scheme would be a major breach of trust with the Australian people", said Craig Wallace on behalf of the Australian Cross Disability Alliance. "Contrary to recent speculation and reporting, the NDIS is on budget, on time and delivering overdue change in the lives of people with disability across Australia."

"People with disability across Australia have been working for the past six years to get ready for the NDIS and to make sure the new system meets our needs. This long overdue investment in people with disability and their families will enable more people to move into work, and also create jobs in the disability support sector, including for people with disability".

"Reporting on just the costs of the NDIS misses the economic contribution that the NDIS will make with an increase of $22 billion to GDP not to mention the other benefits of having more Australians able to participate in the life of our community."

The Australian Cross Disability Alliance calls on Prime Minister Turnbull to rule out removing the independence of the NDIS and any retrograde shift to an outdated rationed disability support system.

"The NDIS must be free of government interference and be allowed to proceed with the roll out as planned, in conjunction with people with disability," said Mr Wallace. "People with disability deserve certainty. We have waited long enough for the support system we need."

The Australian Cross Disability Alliance is an alliance of four national Disabled People's Organisations (organisations made up of and led by people with disability).

The ACDA was founded by, and is made up of the First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDNA) representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) representing people with disability from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, People with Disability Australia (PWDA) a national cross disability organisation and Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA), the national organisation representing women and girls with disability.

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed article relating to our australia and new zealand section was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its likely interest to our disability community readers. Though the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article "Hands off the NDIS: Australian Cross Disability Alliance" was originally written by Australian Cross Disability Alliance. Should you require further information or clarification, they can be contacted at pwd.org.au Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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