National Disability Insurance Scheme

On 10 August 2011, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s acceptance of key recommendations from the Productivity Commission Report and pledged $10 million for start up policy work on a National Disability Insurance Scheme. The report also recommended a separate insurance scheme for people requiring lifetime care and support for catastrophic injuries.

We welcome this news and the establishment of structures to protect and promote the rights of Australians caught up in this type of catastrophic situation and needing life long care and support. However, we would say that there should be caution about any proposal that might emerge cutting off access to the Courts as a part of the reform process. Always a balancing act but access to the courts is a critical part of our successful democracy. Moreover, within the scheme it would be important that clients have a right to legal representation and advice if problems arise.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is estimated to cost $14 billion annually to be funded from Federal revenue and is not expected to be rolled out until 2015 and will be funded similarly to Medicare. The Federal Government currently provides around $2.3 billion in disability support funding and State and Territory Governments contribute the bulk funding at around $4.7 billion.

Clearly much work and cooperation will be required to proceed with this excellent initiative which all Australians should, subject to the issue raised above, enthusiastically support.