The Cook Government is cautioning Canberra that considerable time and effort are necessary to prevent a major overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from leaving disabled children in Western Australia behind.
Concerns over cost shifting and eligibility changes
State governments have expressed reluctance to accept cost shifting as the Albanese Government moves to tighten NDIS eligibility criteria and aims to remove 160,000 participants from the scheme to curb escalating expenses.
Queensland has so far declined to sign on to the Thriving Kids program, which is designed to replace NDIS supports for children under nine years old with mild or moderate autism or developmental delays.
Western Australian Treasurer Rita Saffioti has voiced caution as negotiations over program funding continue, a decade after WA was the last state to join the NDIS.
WA Treasurer calls for robust system
“We’ve been working in relation to the Thriving Kids element. But more generally, we were asked to dismantle our disability services system to be part of the NDIS, and now we’re asked to re-establish it,” Ms Saffioti said.
“That’s what’s happened, and that is going to take a lot of time and effort to ensure the community is properly cared for and that kids don’t fall through the gaps.
“Our priority is to make sure our system is robust and provides care to those kids that need it.”
Prime Minister defends overhaul timeline
During a visit to Perth this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the timeline of the NDIS overhaul and denied it was causing widespread anxiety.
“People need to listen to what we have said very clearly,” Mr Albanese said.
“We’ve said very clearly – consistent with my philosophy of no one being left behind – no one will be removed without somewhere for them to go, without those measures put in place.
“Part of the philosophy behind the NDIS is empowerment. So it’s not for us to just unilaterally impose what we’re doing. We will talk with the sector.”
