New NDIS proposal criticised by disability sector
Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme currently has around 430,000 participants – and that number continues to grow. But changes proposed by the Coalition Government to the way people are assessed to access the system has created an outcry amongst disability organisations. They see it as an attack on the NDIS they fought for – a move away from the individualised nature of the scheme to a “tick a box” process.
While the changes have been put on hold for the moment by the new Minister, Linda Reynolds, the disability sector and participants are fearful that the Coalition Government is heading down a cost-cutting path similar to the punitive approach taken by Centrelink – that will restrict access to the scheme, reduce supports to disabled people and create uncertainty for them and their carers.
Joint Statement: Disability sector statement on the Australian Government’s planned reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)