16 October, 2012
NO NDIS FUNDING COMMITMENT
The Secretary of the Department of Finance confirmed in Senate Estimates hearings today that there is no funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme beyond the forward estimates.
The Government has provided only a quarter of the money required over the forward estimates for the first phase of the NDIS and nothing beyond that period.
This is in contrast to the commitment to the Epping-Parramatta rail link which extends beyond the forward estimates.
MITCH FIFIELD:
So you’ve got in your heads and the Department of Infrastructure and Transport have in their heads that spending on that project Epping to Parramatta will continue between mid-2015 and mid-2019. So that’s in your heads. Is it in your heads for the NDIS that there will be spending beyond the forward estimates?
DAVID TUNE:
It is in our heads that there could be spending beyond the forward estimates.
MITCH FIFIELD:
So it’s not as firmly in your heads as the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link?
DAVID TUNE:
No because that’s a firm government commitment…
This was then confirmed by a subsequent exchange:
MITCH FIFIELD:
…But anyway I just wanted to get clear that the NDIS is in a different status to the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link.
DAVID TUNE:
That’s correct.
The Government has sought to leave the impression they have committed to a full national roll out of the NDIS by 2018-19. The Department of Finance confirmed today they had not.