NDIS: Signs of growing mistrust between ministers as stoush continues
People with disabilities, service providers and advocates are frustrated at the ongoing uncertainty, given the McGowan government is leaning towards joining the national NDIS and Social Services Minister Christian Porter wants that too.
It comes just a week before the full roll-out of the scheme started in WA.
Disability Services Minister Stephen Dawson has been reviewing whether to keep the bilateral agreement signed by the previous Barnett government with the Commonwealth for a locally-administered NDIS or join the national scheme.
Mr Dawson asked for more information about costs under each model and wants to know how much the Commonwealth would contribute.
But he said he was dissatisfied with the response from Mr Porter, particularly with how services would be rolled out in remote and regional areas.
“We are still seeking a Commonwealth commitment to a fixed amount for full scheme funding for either a state-run scheme or inclusion in the national scheme,” he said.
“I remain deeply concerned that the unique requirements of Western Australians, as discussed with me in my review, will not be addressed in the federal scheme – and Minister Porter has provided me with sparse information to reassure me otherwise,” Mr Dawson said.
Mr Porter hit back, saying the Commonwealth had provided all the information Western Australia needed to make a decision, but it could not consider funding until WA showed the state-run NDIS was nationally consistent with the federal scheme.
Source: ABC News