National Disability Insurance Scheme stoush triggers alarm
What does a man in his forties hope for in life?
A decent job and some money in the bank perhaps. For some, a family. For others, travel and a rich social life.
George Taleporos has some of these. But what he wants most is to be fully independent.
Taleporos, 40, uses a wheelchair, and has to rely on family for 24-hour care.
Like thousands of people with a disability he is looking forward to July, when the National Disability Insurance Scheme will expand from its trial sites to cover the country.
It gives people with disabilities a greater say over how their support funding is spent and, in Mr Taleporos’ case, it should mean he can have a full-time carer.
But a political bunfight has erupted over a plan from Federal Social Services Minister Christian Porter to make changes to the legislation that guides the scheme, alarming advocates like Taleporos, the manager for the Youth Disability Advocacy Service.
Source: The Age