Page 1758 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 4 June 2014

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MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Children and Young People, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Women, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (3.49): I thank Mr Wall for bringing this motion to the Assembly, but I move the amendment circulated earlier because it reflects reality a tad better than Mr Wall’s motion. I move:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes:

(a) that in order to ensure the widest possible choice of service for people with disability, the ACT Government is transitioning out of service delivery as part of the move to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and that this will include:

(i) early intervention services by the end of the 2014 school year;

(ii) therapy services by December 2016; and

(iii) group homes by June 2017;

(b) National Disability Insurance Agency offices will open in Canberra on 1 July 2014 and will be responsible for assessment and development of individual plans for those eligible under the NDIS;

(c) a proposed NDIS transition plan has been negotiated between the ACT Government and Commonwealth officials;

(d) despite the scheme commencing on 1 July, no formal announcement of a detailed phasing schedule has been possible due to administrative delays at the Commonwealth level;

(e) these major reforms, meaning significant change to disability services, have generated a level of anxiety among some in the community who will be affected;

(f) the Government has engaged with, and will continue to engage with parents, carers, teachers, therapists and advocates on the implementation of the scheme and transition arrangements for early intervention, therapy services and other elements of the NDIS;

(g) the Government’s commitment to ensure that details of non-government service providers intending to replace existing early intervention programs will be made available to the community at the beginning of the Term 4 this year; and

(h) the Government’s commitment that no child currently receiving government early intervention services will be left unprovided for in regards to early intervention services in 2015; and

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