Queensland commits to expanding disability services

• Final report from National Disability Insurance Scheme Review welcomed
• Minister for Child Safety and Seniors and Disability Services Hon Craig Crawford supports reforms to make the system more equitable, transparent and consistent
• Next steps will involve improving the operation of the NDIS and building more supports for people with disability outside the scheme

Minister Craig Crawford has welcomed the release of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review final report.

The review identified significant issues with the operation of the NDIS, and the experience of people with disability in receiving supports through the scheme.

At a meeting of National Cabinet yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined the Prime Minister, other Premiers and Chief Ministers in considering the review’s recommendations and acknowledged the need for reforms to improve the scheme’s operation and make the NDIS sustainable into the future.

This included an agreement to jointly design and commission foundational supports for people with disability outside the NDIS – a step the Queensland Government welcomes.

Queensland will work collaboratively with the Commonwealth, other states and territories, people with disability and the disability sector to undertake this work.

These efforts will build on the supports provided under the NDIS, the range of existing specialist disability supports funded by the state government and the significant supports currently provided through mainstream services, such as education, health, transport and housing.

Minister Crawford recognises the NDIS is built on strong partnerships between state, territory and Australian governments, and that all jurisdictions must continue collaborating to achieve the outcomes that were originally envisaged and promised.

The NDIS Review recommendations will need to considered along with those of the Disability Royal Commission to ensure reforms are carefully planned and implemented.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Disability Services Craig Crawford:

“First and foremost, I thank all the Queenslanders with disability, and their families, who took the time and effort to share their experiences over the past 12 months with the review panel.

“Because of their insights, governments will be in a stronger position to make the system better.

“Along with the Premier, I welcome the outcomes of the National Cabinet meeting this week.

“We are strongly committed to working with the Australian Government and other jurisdictions to build on our existing disability supports by jointly designing and commissioning new foundational supports for people with disability outside the NDIS.

“Most importantly, we will ensure that we work closely with the disability services sector to develop and implement these reforms.

“Around one million Queenslanders have disabilities, and we understand just how important it is to get these changes right.

“The next steps will require careful negotiations, planning and implementation to make sure nothing falls through the cracks – we recognise there is too much risk to people with disability not to do this properly.”

ENDS