Media Release by Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield

Delivering the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP
    Prime Minister

The Australian Government is committed to delivering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The agreements with the New South Wales and Victorian Governments for the full NDIS roll out in those states from July 2016 mark a huge milestone in the delivery of the NDIS.

They give certainty to more than half of the eligible population in Australia that people with disability and their families will receive support from the NDIS.

Ultimately around 460,000 Australians and their families will benefit from the NDIS.

The Coalition Government will deliver the NDIS in full.

We have supported the NDIS from Day One–from the work of the Productivity Commission, to the legislation and the establishment of trial sites.

Negotiations are progressing well with the remaining states and the Northern Territory on the bilateral agreements for full NDIS rollout beyond the trial sites.

There has been tremendous goodwill by all governments throughout these negotiations.

These are joint ventures, and we are working to deliver a scheme that stands the tests of time.

It falls to the Coalition to ensure full funding for the NDIS in the long term. The Scheme is just one of many reasons why the Coalition Government is working to repair the Budget.

In this year’s Budget we announced $143 million to build a new ICT system for the full scheme, and we are committing nearly $700 million for the NDIS this year.

The Coalition Government is investing $20 million into the rollout of the NDIS in Western Sydney this financial year to deliver the NDIS early for 2,000 children and young people.

Today’s signings again confirm the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to ensure people with disability have access to the lifetime choice and support they need.