The Geelong-based- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was facing critical decisions that would affect it for the next 30 years, Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday.
Mr Andrews called on the Federal Government to step up and deliver promised economic and social reforms and funding.
“If the NDIS is to succeed, the Federal Government must show it is committed to putting people with a disability at the heart of a system of rights that ensures they have choice and control over their support services,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews said he would be delivering the message to Australia’s largest conference for people with disabilities, run by the Victorian League for Individuals with a Disability in Geelong last night.
“The NDIS is now facing crucial decisions that will set the standards and outcomes for the next 30 years,” he said.
“We are determined to uphold quality standards for the new system. For this to happen, we need the Federal Government to deliver on the NDIS as it promised.”
Mr Andrews said service rights needed to be enforced, with governments supporting independent advocacy.
“Quality must be backed by registration of providers, external scrutiny and robust complaints handling, including the ability to investigate. The few rogues must be weeded out,” Mr Andrews said.
“Specialist disability housing must be fully funded.
“The Federal Government has failed to deliver the original scheme’s promise that the housing aspirations of people with disability would be fully funded.
“The NDIS is a jointly funded scheme, and the Federal Government needs to deliver its share of this.
“Support is needed for clients, their families, providers, advocates and workers to understand their roles, rights and responsibilities in the new world of the NDIS.”
Mr Andrews said Victoria had invested more than $10 million but had seen “very little” investment from the Federal Government’s $140 million Sector Development Fund.
“This is the year the Federal Government needs to step up and work with the states, people with disabilities, their families and their organisations to achieve this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the lives of 450,000 Australians with disabilities.
“This is an historic moment where governments are called upon to lead.
“The March meeting of the Disability Reform Council is the last real chance to deliver fully on the promise of the NDIS before full roll-out of the scheme starts in the major states of NSW and Victoria.
“Our government will hold true to the vision of the NDIS. We need our Federal colleagues to stand with us in a truly bi-partisan way on this once-in-a-generation transformational change.”
