By Marcus Uhe
A Labor government would review the “design, operation and sustainability” of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), according to Holt Labor Candidate Cassandra Fernando.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from 2016 showed the City of Casey has the largest number of residents living with a disability in Victoria, with 4.7 per cent of the population (14,144) living with a profound or severe disability.
People living with a profound or severe disability are defined as those who need help or assistance in one or more of the three core activity areas of self-care, mobility and communication, because of a disability, or a long-term health condition.
The NDIS has come under fire recently after their quarterly report for March 2022 showed an average fall of four per cent in plan size per participant between 2020 and 2021.
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal, responsible for reviewing decisions made by Australian Government Ministers, departments and agencies, have experienced a 400 per cent increase in people disputing their NDIS plan.
Under Labor, cuts to plans amounting to more than 20 per cent per year would be subject to an ‘Expert Review’, an alternative dispute resolution mechanism
“Labor is committed to ensuring that no Australian with a disability is left behind – from getting the NDIS working properly for those that need it, to coordinating support for all 4.4 million Australians living with disability,“ Ms Fernando said.
“Labor will act urgently to stop the Morrison Government’s unfair cuts to NDIS plans by introducing an Expert Review that will guarantee plans are not being unfairly reduced,” Ms Fernando said.
“We will bring forward a planned review of the scheme and consult on terms of reference that will consider all available evidence and look at benefits as well as problems inside and outside the NDIS.”
Palmer United Candidate Gerardine Hansen echoed Labor’s sentiment on the importance of the scheme.
“The NDIS is very needful for so many in our community,” Ms Hansen said.
“We need to ensure NDIS is delivering to its best potential and UAP is committed to do this,”
“When elected I will be working be closely with the City of Casey with their plans to ensure the very best for people of Holt.”
The Liberal Party and the Greens were contacted for comment.
