The Wire

The federal government has announced it’ll consider setting up a national insurance scheme to provide care to more disabled people. The Medicare-style scheme would levy funds from the wider community to provide long-term care to people with disabilities. The government claims the scheme would provide care to people currently being left behind by the disability welfare system. Disability services and advocacy groups have praised the proposal. They say it’ll reduce stress on welfare and care services for disabled people. Therese Sands, executive director of People with Disability Australia, says the proposed scheme will reduce the need for people disabled in accidents to resort to litigation for financial support.