What we heard in powerful testimony from witnesses at NDIS inquiry
A Senate inquiry into the proposed NDIS shake-up was told the government must stamp out rorting, while avoiding cuts that could put participants in unsafe environments and cause carers to burn out. Here are the key takeaways from the six days of hearings.
Over the course of six days of hearings, senators questioned proposed amendments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that they claim would save the government over $30 billion in the next four years. These changes are expected to affect over 300,000 participants, with many participants or their families and carers expressing concerns over the potential impact.
The Senate committee received 4,500 submissions during a two-week period, highlighting the breadth of opinions on the matter. Key issues raised during the inquiry included the alleged 'runaway' costs of community engagement funding and the government's plan to cut funding for community participation and capacity building by 50% and 10%, respectively.
Disability advocates, such as Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess, expressed concerns over the potential consequences of these cuts, stating that participants may be forced into unsafe environments, exposing them to violence, abuse, and exploitation. The government's primary motivation for the proposed changes is to combat fraud and overcharging within the NDIS, with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) being granted the power to investigate fraud and address conflicts of interest.
However, some witnesses questioned the adequacy of these measures, with Bronwyn Morris Donovan from Allied Health Professions suggesting that the bill does not go far enough in addressing fraud. Parents of children with disability have also expressed concerns over the draft bill, which proposes that parents provide substantial care, such as personal care, transport, and behavioral support.
Skye Kakoschke-Moore, the CEO of Children and Young People with Disability Australia, emphasized that expecting parents to provide the same level of care as skilled support workers could lead to family crisis and increased instances of carer burnout. The government plans to remove children with autism and developmental delay, with mild to moderate support needs, from the NDIS through the Thriving Kids program, which is set to begin rolling out in just eight weeks.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
