There has been widespread opposition to the proposed model from people with disability, our families and community, and it is heartening the new Minister has listened to those concerns.

A privatised assessment system where a person with disability’s future would be determined by a tick-a-box assessment with a stranger over a few hours was not the NDIS thousands of Australians fought for.

The Minister now has an opportunity to genuinely engage with the people the NDIS was designed to support and we stand ready to work with the government to develop a system that is sustainable and fair for the almost 450,000 Australians with disability who rely on it.

We look forward to the Minister making a concrete commitment at today’s meeting of Federal and State Disability Ministers to jettison the current proposal.

In recent days we have been concerned by reports that the NDIA has established a secret working group that is focused on cutting costs rather than supporting the needs of people with disability.

The NDIS is a great Australian social reform designed to put people with disability at the centre of service delivery.

We will continue to engage constructively – but also fight passionately – for the future of the NDIS.

Related

Disability sector statement on the Australian Government’s planned reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)