NDIS ON TRACK AND ON BUDGET: REPORT

Media Release

Jenny Macklin MP

Shadow Minister for Families and Payments

 Shadow Minister for Disability Reform

Thursday, 1 May 2014

The third quarterly report on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, released today, makes it clear that there is no case for any cut, cap or delay to the Scheme.

Tony Abbott must immediately reject any recommendation made by his Commission Audit to cap the level of support for participants in the NDIS and abandon his plan to recommend a review of the Scheme at tomorrow’s COAG meeting.

Any cap to participant support would fundamentally undermine the insurance principles that are the foundation of the Scheme.

It would destroy the NDIS and be another broken promise by the Abbott Government.

Today’s report from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) completely undermines the Abbott Government’s repeated and misleading claims that the NDIS is facing ‘cost blowouts’.

Average package costs are around $34,000 – lower than the $35,000 that has been budgeted.

Overall funding for the launch sites is well within budget. The Report shows that around $107 million of support will flow to the Scheme’s participants this financial year - this is well within the allocated funding envelope of $152 million.

The NDIS legislation already requires that a review of the Scheme be undertaken in 2015 – again proving just how politically motivated Mr Abbott’s proposed review is.

Already, more than 5414 people are receiving the care and support that they have waited their whole lives for.

Labor congratulates the NDIA for all its hard work and dedication in getting the NDIS up and running. Their hard work is already transforming lives.

Tony Abbott said before the election that he was on a unity ticket with Labor when it came to the NDIS.

Any attempt by this government to cap, cut or delay this scheme will be a broken promise to people with disability who have already waited long enough.