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POLITICO Politics1 min read
States tell Albanese government that NDIS changes could mean people with disabilities are shifted into hospitals
TL;DR
State and territory disability ministers warn that proposed NDIS changes by the Albanese government could force over 200,000 participants into hospitals. They express concerns over inadequate services and lack of consultation on the reforms.
Key points
- Proposed NDIS changes could shift over 200,000 participants into hospitals
- The Albanese government aims to curb the $50bn-a-year scheme's growth
- State ministers warn about inadequate services and lack of consultation
State and territory disability ministers have rung alarm bells over the Albanese government’s proposed overhaul of the NDIS, warning they can’t deliver “like-for-like services” for more than 200,000 participants expected to be shifted off the scheme by 2031.
The Albanese government’s national disability insurance scheme bill is designed to dramatically curb the growth of the $50bn-a-year scheme by first reducing budgets and then the number of people who can access it from 2028.
The legislation is being scrutinised by a Labor-led Senate committee, which is due to deliver recommendations next week.
In a joint submission uploaded to the NDIS inquiry on Thursday, states and territories agreed that curbing the scheme’s growth was important, but warned that goal should not be prioritised over participant safety, wellbeing and life outcomes.
Disability ministers said they were not “meaningfully consulted” on the proposed change and were concerned about unilateral powers given to the federal NDIS minister “signalling a broader shift away” from shared governance.
More than 240,000 participants are expected to be shifted off the NDIS in the four years after new eligibility rules are introduced in 2028, department modelling shows.
Disability ministers criticised a lack of “clearly defined alternative supports” which it said created the “risk of unmet need and cost-shifting to state and territory systems (including health, education and justice), which are not equipped for increased demand and cannot deliver like-for-like services with the NDIS”.
“Without a careful, coordinated approach that aligns these changes with broader improvements across the disability support system, there is a significant risk that people with disability will end up in hospitals or other settings that are inappropriate and unable to meet their needs, or have no access to services at all,” the submission said.
“States and territories are not in a position, and have made no agreement, to deliver like-for-like services to people who are exited from the NDIS.”
The Senate inquiry has been told that planned 50% cuts to social and community participation budgets would increase isolation, segregation and create “unsafe situations” for NDIS participants.
The federal health minister, Mark Butler, refused to be drawn on the concerns when asked on Thursday if the government was prepared to reconsider the scale of the cuts.
Q&A
What are the proposed changes to the NDIS by the Albanese government?
The Albanese government is proposing an overhaul of the NDIS aimed at reducing budgets and the number of participants eligible for the scheme by 2031.
How many NDIS participants are expected to be affected by the changes?
More than 200,000 participants are expected to be shifted off the NDIS scheme by 2031 due to the proposed changes.
What concerns have state disability ministers raised about the NDIS reforms?
State disability ministers are concerned that the reforms could compromise participant safety and wellbeing, as they feel they were not adequately consulted on the changes.
