2 November, 2012
WONG SILENT ON NDIS FUNDING
The Government has again failed to provide funding certainty for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Under questioning by Senator Fifield today, Finance Minister Penny Wong refused to say how the Government will fund the full rollout of an NDIS.
Senator Wong responded to legitimate questions asked on behalf of Australians with disability with petty partisanship that demeans the goodwill and cross party support that exists.
The Coalition supports the recommendations of the Productivity Commission for an NDIS and has pledged to work with the Government to implement them as soon as possible.
We fully support the $1 billion allocated in the May Budget. We fully support the five launch sites which have been announced.
It is time for the Government to start answering the many questions Australians with disability and their families have in relation to the NDIS.
The Government must say whether it is committed to a full NDIS by the Productivity Commission target date of 2018-19 and must outline how they intend to fund a full NDIS when the NDIS legislation is introduced in the next sitting week.
People with disability will be disappointed that the Government has again failed to answer legitimate questions.