Page 1246 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
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Many people with a disability are already receiving services from the non-government disability services operating in the ACT, and the NDIS provides an opportunity for this sector to grow. In terms of supported accommodation, two-thirds of supported accommodation is already provided by non-government services. So whilst the withdrawal of that will be a significant change, there is already an active market and an active service provision within the community for that.
The government is working with Therapy ACT and Disability ACT staff and will provide additional training and upskilling so that these staff have new employment opportunities. Therapy ACT and Disability ACT staff may choose to seek redeployment within the ACT government, they may seek employment with another provider or they may form their own business or cooperatives.
The gradual withdrawal will take place over two to three years. The staff will be supported, trained and assisted as they make their choices about their careers. The Assembly will already know that disability advocates have endorsed the government’s decision. This adds weight that gradually withdrawing as a specialist service provider will deliver the best outcomes for people with a disability.
The ACT Council of Social Services welcomed the government’s decision by saying:
This decision is in line with the principles that have guided design and launch of the NDIS and will contribute to opening up more diverse, flexible and community connected options for people who currently access government delivered services.
Craig Wallace, the President of People with Disability Australia and ACT NDIS expert panel member, wrote:
There is a lot of misinformation around transformations like this, with terms like “privatisation” loosely thrown around, but the reality is that government stepping carefully out of the way is one of the best things that could happen. By gradually withdrawing from provision of these services we create room for the non-government sector to expand and deliver the choice of service provision to people with disability that the NDIS promises.
The national disability insurance scheme is, indeed, a landmark for Australia. It has the support of people with disabilities across Australia and, I would hope, all governments and parliaments. I think the biggest risk to the NDIS seems to be some recent commentary out of the Commission of Audit and other uncertainties about the implementation of the NDIS. I was very pleased to see some quite clear statements coming from COAG that have said unilaterally that in the states implementing this there should be no delay, that the community of people with a disability have waited long enough for these services to come through.
Turning to my amendment, it accepts the first part of your motion, Mr Wall, and notes that we are waiting for final sign-off. As I have outlined, in terms of our transition and phasing today, you can use that, Mr Wall, in any of your conversations with people. I think that is important information to be out there. It calls on me to seek sign-off from
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