State leaders push back on ‘blindside’ NDIS changes
State leaders have accused the federal government of blindsiding them with changes to the NDIS that they fear will lead to them taking on more responsibility for care.
The federal health minister said 160,000 people were expected to be excluded from the $50 billion program under new eligibility rules.
In a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Mark Butler said states would have “more funding responsibility for the program.”
Some state leaders said they were not fully consulted on the changes and did not want to assume the costs of federal liability.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said he supported cost-cutting reform but did not want the burden to shift to the states.
“I wish I had a briefing, it would be great to see where the NDIS ship is heading,” the Labor prime minister said.
“The states are working with the Commonwealth on reforming the entire NDIS system, delivering many of the key supports and ensuring young people in particular can get the supports they need.
“But it’s a Commonwealth program so we don’t want to pay for it.”
Queensland Disability Services Minister Amanda Camm said the announcement came with “little detail and little consultation”.
“Minister Mark Butler stood up at the National Press Club and outlined the runaway train that the NDIS has become, and in doing so he simultaneously separated the carriages and sent them on the path of the state,” he said.
The Liberal National Party minister accused federal Labor governments of failing to reform the scheme sooner and allowing “rogue individuals” to take advantage.
“It was the federal government that decided disability would be their responsibility,” he said.
“Our state and other states and territories will pay the price for failures.
“Mr. Butler highlighted the need for local support systems to be rebuilt by states and territories. These systems do not exist and rebuilding them would come at a huge cost to our state.”
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he had not yet been fully briefed on the NDIS changes but the integrity of the plan was based on support going to those who needed it most.
“The NDIS was established with very good intentions and for a very good purpose; that purpose must be sustained,” the Liberal prime minister said.
A NSW government spokesman said ministers would be briefed on Wednesday evening and would “carefully consider the announcements and their impact on the state”.
