Update 16 - 8 May 2012
Tonight the
Gillard Labor Government committed $1 billion to deliver the
first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
We will launch an NDIS in select regions across Australia from
the middle of next year, making an NDIS real for about 10,000
people with significant and permanent disability, and their
families and carers. From the middle of 2014, this will increase to
about 20,000 people.
We know that people with disability, their families and carers
have been waiting a long time for change. That is why we will
deliver the first stage of an NDIS a full year ahead of the
timetable set out by the Productivity Commission.
Over the next few months we will be working with the states and
territories, who have all agreed they have a shared responsibility
for the fundamental reform of disability care and support, to
identify the locations for this first stage.
We will establish a new National Disability Transition Agency to
run the delivery of care and support to people with disability,
their families and carers in the select locations.
And we will continue to work to build the foundations necessary
to start an NDIS, including critical questions such as eligibility,
assessment and workforce and sector capacity.
We have recently announced a series of
working groups to seek the expert advice of people with
disability, their families and carers, disability service providers
and care workers to help us with the detailed work of this
scheme.
Today's announcement shows we're serious about doing the hard
work required to build an NDIS - and to create the kind of change
we all want to see for people with disability, their families and
carers.
A lot of your work has gone into making this happen - and
together, we have a lot of work ahead of us to get an NDIS up and
running.
Thanks for your work in making this happen. We look forward to
working with you as we progress to the launch of an NDIS.
Jenny Macklin & Jan McLucas