Page 2174 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 August 2014
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Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
National disability insurance scheme—implementation
Ministerial statement
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Racing and Gaming, Minister for Women and Minister for the Arts), by leave: I am very pleased today to report on progress with implementing the national disability insurance scheme in the ACT.
On 7 May and 4 June this year, the Assembly, in separate resolutions, called for regular reports on the implementation of disability reform in the ACT. Our community will know that the launch of the NDIS was on 1 July this year. I went to that launch, along with senator for the ACT Zed Seselja. I enjoyed celebrating the launch with many people who had made the scheme possible in the ACT.
That day was the start of the ACT NDIS trial for over 5,000 people with disability and for their families. The next two years will demonstrate how effective a national scheme can be for them and how greater certainty of funding can make a positive difference in their lives.
The ACT government is committing $14.41 million to the NDIS in this financial year, and by 2019-20 the ACT government will provide $167 million and the commonwealth contribution will be $175 million of the total cost.
One of the most important decisions made by the commonwealth and ACT governments is the way in which people with disability will phase in to the NDIS. We knew we needed to plan the way in which individuals would access the scheme over the two-year trial period.
I announced the phase-in timetable on 4 June this year, following agreement with the commonwealth Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield. The timetable provides for people to begin the transition to the NDIS according to their age or their stage of life. About 162 people will transition to the NDIS in the first quarter.
The cut-off age for the NDIS is 65 years and adults are transitioning from oldest to youngest so that they do not miss out. Children are transitioning according to their school year or by age if they are not yet at school.
People living in disability group homes are moving into the NDIS according to the age of the youngest person living in their home. From July to September 2014, residents of five group homes whose youngest member is 22 or younger will be assessed by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
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