NSW locks in the NDIS

A day to remember

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Ageing and Disability Minister Andrew Constance and I were delighted to join with the Prime Minister to announce New South Wales as the first Australian State to sign on to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

This landmark agreement will empower and support people with disabilities their families and carers across NSW. It’s an issue that is above politics and deserves the bipartisan support it has achieved.

It’ll mean that from 2016 the Commonwealth and NSW Governments will start to roll out the full National Disability Insurance Scheme across NSW.

From 2018 that means $6.4 billion in disability support being spent each year. It is anticipated that that NDIS will assist more than 140,000 people with a disability living in NSW to lead a dignified, decent and productive life.

This terrific outcome continues the NSW Liberals and National Government’s record of reform in social services. Importantly this reform could not have been achieved without the support and advocacy of so many people in the community and I sincerely thank them for their efforts, in particular the Every Australian Counts organisation.

For more information and details on the announcement go to: http://www.nsw.gov.au/ndis

Landmark agreement for NSW on NDIS

This week I was delighted to join with the Prime Minister to announce NSW is the first Australian state to sign onto a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

This landmark agreement will empower and support people with a disability, their family and carers.

It will mean from 2018 the Commonwealth and NSW governments will invest more than $6.4 billion in disability support each year.

It is anticipated the NDIS will assist more than 140,000 people with a disability living in NSW lead a dignified and decent life.

For more information on the agreement please visit www.nsw.gov.au/ndis

Importantly, this historic reform could not have been achieved without your support and advocacy. I sincerely thank you for your efforts.

Yours sincerely

Barry O’Farrell
Premier of New South Wales

Canberra NDIS Forum to be hosted by the ALP:

Gai Brodtmann and Andrew Leigh will be hosting the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator the Hon Jan McLucas at an Afternoon tea and public forum to discuss a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Friday 24 August 2pm-4pm - Griffin Centre - Genge Street, Canberra City

Please RSVP to Andrew.Leigh.MP@aph.gov.au by 12 noon, Friday 24 August.

ACT seeks to pilot disability scheme

Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek invites you to a forum on the NDIS

Tanya Plibersek MP, Sydney

You’re nvited to attend a public forum for local residents about the future of disability services in our country.

The Government knows that fundamental reform of disability services is desperately needed.

Finding care – the right kind at the time you need it – has been too hard for too long. It’s time Australia started work to turn a National Disability Insurance Scheme into a reality.

I want to invite you to find out more about what a National Disability Insurance Scheme will mean for our community, particularly people with disability and their families, and the path forward for this important reform.

The details are: 6.30pm – 7.30pm | Wednesday 28 March, Old Darlington School Building, Sydney University 

RSVP to Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au or 9379 0700

Making Sense of the Politics

The disability sector has been faced with two opposing positions this week both from people who are passionate about the NDIS.

The Prime Minister just last week confirmed to a hall full of people that ‘the NDIS would become a reality and was no longer an aspirational target’.

The Shadow Minister for Disability Mitch Fifield said in a statement this week that ‘Without funding in the mini-budget, the Government’s commitment to a National Disability Insurance Scheme remains in-principle only. The Government cannot continue to make promises and not provide for them in their budget’.

The truth is that both of these statements should be well received by the disability community.

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UnitingCare NSW/ACT wants to make sure Every Australian Counts

UnitingCare NSWACT is a key supporter of the Every Australian Counts campaign. Executive Director, Reverend Harry Herbert believes that a National Disability Insurance Scheme is essential to address the social disadvantage and isolation experienced by people with a disability in Australia today. “We need a system that gives people with a disability the resources they need to take control of their own destinies and enable them to participate as active citizens in the life of our country”.

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NSW South Coast NDIS Community Forum – Friday, 25th November

SHOALHAVEN NDIS COMMUNITY FORUM

Friday, 25th of November, at 10:30am

NOWRA SHOWGROUND MEETING ROOM, Junction St Entry from Scenic drive

RSVP BY EMAILING daniel.kyriacou@ndis.org.au

You’re invited to a public forum to learn about the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and what it will mean for you and your family.

The NDIS represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform the lives of people with a disability, their families and carers in this country. The forum is open to all Australians who believe in equality and fairness, but is targeted at people with a disability, their families, carers and people who work in the disability sector.

Guest Speaker will be Federal MP for Gilmore Mrs Joanna Gash MP.

Malcolm Turnbull MP Speech to Parliament about the Every Australian Counts Campaign

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth) (09:43): I am speaking today to add my voice, together with many of my constituents’ voices, to the Every Australian Counts campaign for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme—a federally funded scheme that will provide people with a disability and their carers and families with the regular care, support, therapy and equipment that they need.

The challenge that faces all of us here will be taking this bipartisan dream—bipartisan, I am pleased to say—and turning it into a functioning and funded policy. The coalition, whose advocacy in this area has been very ably conducted by Senator Mitch Fifield, supports the proposal that supporting people with disabilities should be core government business.

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Select Council asked to fast-track NDIS foundation reforms

This Thursday 20 October in Sydney the NDIS Select Council (Disability Ministers and Treasurers) established by COAG will meet for the first time – and be asked to put in place NDIS foundation reforms a year ahead of the Productivity Commission’s deadline – by mid-2013.

Accelerated delivery of the foundation reforms – the key changes the Productivity Commission said were needed before a National Disability Insurance Scheme can be introduced – are a welcome response to the strong pressure EAC campaigners continue to exert on MPs from all political parties to implement the NDIS happen as quickly as possible without sacrificing the scheme’s sustainability.

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Member for Cunningham signs up as a supporter of an NDIS

Sharon Bird Member for Cunningham signs up as a supporter of the Every Australian Counts campaign for an NDIS

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