NDIS reforms spotlighted in public hearings

FEDERAL Member for Corangamite and chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Libby Coker, has said a series of public hearings on the NDIS participant experience in rural, regional, and remote Australia in recent months had been enlightening.

Ms Coker said the hearings provided a platform for the disability community to voice their concerns and experiences.

“The NDIS has made a positive, life-changing impact on the lives of many people with disability. For others, it has not yet lived up to its promises,” Ms Coker said.

“The hearings are valuable because they provide an opportunity for participants, their support workers and families – the people who use the scheme, who know it best – to tell their story.”

Issues highlighted during the hearings included fraud, access to legal protections, and a need for improved literacy, numeracy, and transport supports within the NDIS.

Since the Albanese Government established the Fraud Fusion Taskforce (FFT) in November 2022, the number of reports concerning fraud has surged dramatically.

In the latest quarter, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) received 4,667 reports of fraud and compliance issues, marking an increase of over 75% compared to similar quarters before the FFT was established.

“The Albanese Government recognises this and it’s why we’ve introduced legislation to Parliament that will lay the foundations for a new support structure.” Ms Coker said.

The proposed legislation, named the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024, aims to enhance the quality and safety of services, ensuring they align more closely with the scheme’s original intent.

This bill, set to be debated in the coming parliamentary sitting weeks, follows extensive consultations and addresses key recommendations from an independent review of the NDIS.

It is expected to introduce significant reforms focused on access, plans and budget settings, and enhancing participant protections.

“The Bill will usher in a new era of NDIS reforms that ensure the Scheme can continue to provide life-changing outcomes for future generation of Australians with disability and to make sure every dollar in the Scheme gets to the participants for whom the Scheme was designed,” Ms Coker said.