Queensland Government plan on NDIS

Premier Campbell Newman today announced that the Queensland Government had put forward a plan to the Federal Government to fund the NDIS in Queensland.

Visiting the Cerebral Palsy League’s Windsor Service today with Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Disability Services Minister Tracy Davis, Mr Newman said Queensland stood ready to sign on the dotted line with the Commonwealth on a deal to fund the NDIS in Queensland.

“I have today written to the Prime Minister with the Queensland Government’s plan to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Mr Newman said.

“Our plan will see one of the biggest single increases in disability funding this country has ever seen.

“I look forward to the Prime Minister agreeing to the plan so that we can get on with providing better services to people with a disability.

“Queensland has always supported the NDIS and the plan we’ve put on the table will see that Queenslanders with a disability get the support and assistance they deserve.” 

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said Queensland’s plan would allow the Government to fund the Scheme with the Commonwealth while dealing with the debt legacy left by the former Labor Government.

“When the former Labor Government left office, we inherited the lowest disability spend per capita of any State in Australia,” Mr Nicholls said.

“The Newman Government is determined to substantially increase our funding and set a pathway for Queensland to almost double our disability spend in five years.

“With a financial surplus predicted in 2014-15, Queensland will be in the position to increase our funding for disability services and will spend up to $1.77 billion on disability and related support services in 2018-19.”

Disability Services Minister Tracy Davis said an early agreement would set a clear and certain path for Queenslanders with a disability.

“As Disabilities Services Minister, I am proud that because of the hard work of the Newman Government to get the budget under control, Queensland is now in the position to commit to increasing disability funding ahead of a full rollout of the NDIS subject to the Commonwealth agreeing to the plan,” Ms Davis said.

“Queensland will work with the Commonwealth to develop a detailed NDIS Implementation Plan by December 2014.

“We will also work with the disability sector to ensure the NDIS is fully operational in Queensland from July 2018.”

From January 2013, Minister Davis will convene a Queensland NDIS Planning and Implementation Group to bring together key representatives to ensure Queensland’s disability system is ready and able to transition to an NDIS.

Queensland currently spends $959 million per year on specialist disability services, and an additional $200 million per year on associated services.

Queensland’s additional funding offer from 2014-15 is:

Queensland will also commit to escalating disability funding from 2015-16 at a rate of 4.5%, which will account for CPI and population changes.

On behalf of the Queensland Government, Premier Campbell Newman called on the Commonwealth to commit to funding a full NDIS from 2018-19, with all other conditions in line with the deal struck with the NSW Government.

[ENDS] 12 December 2012

Media Contact: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500

Treasurer’s Office – Larine Statham 0419 565 694

Minister Davis’ Office – Sarah Gullo 0417 172 480