NewsWatershed moment for people with disability - NDIS Bilateral Agreements for VIC & NSW signed
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) CEO Matthew Wright spoke to ABC News 24 last Wednesday, September 16, when the NDIS bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and NSW and VIC Governments were signed.
TONY EASTLY:
The Opposition Leader there.
Matthew Wright is the Chief Executive of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations. He told us a little earlier this afternoon that it was a watershed moment for people with disabilities.
MATTHEW WRIGHT:
People with disability can finally feel that the NDIS is real, and that it is going to happen, and these bilateral agreements have been critical in that process.
TONY EASTLY:
Matthew, I find it a little bit strange though that today we've had New South Wales, Victoria and the Federal Government signing onto the NDIS, meanwhile, other states are not signed up at all.
MATTHEW WRIGHT:
Well, you make a great point there, we don't want a situation where on one side of the border somebody is entitled to supports, who has a disability, and on the other side of the border you don't get supports, so I would strongly encourage the other states to sign up immediately.
TONY EASTLY:
Matthew, there has been some criticism about those who are dealing with the Scheme so far; the phone calls, the emails - disabled people trying to figure out where they sit within the NDIS, is there any way to make it easier for people to know what services they can access and make sure that they access the right services that they need?
MATTHEW WRIGHT:
Well it's a really good question, and I think that when you're rolling out a Scheme to 430,000 people across Australia, there are going to be things that work really well from the start, and there are just going to have to be things that we learn from as well, and it's just important that we work through that process together, and provide as much information to people with disability as we possibly can.
TONY EASTLY:
Matthew, from that signing ceremony this morning, does it mean that the floodgates are open for the money, and the Schemes will be up and running as soon as possible in both of those states, or do we have a lag before we actually see people being helped?
MATTHEW WRIGHT:
Well, so what it does mean is that the money is now committed and there will be a progressive roll out between now and 2019, which is fabulous news for people with disability and their families, and this is the watershed moment where people with disability can finally feel that the NDIS is real, and is going to happen.
KUMI TAGUCHI:
For people with a disability, it is real and it's going to happen, and how do they find out that it is real, it is going to happen, and how do they go - navigate through the system as it were, and we've been talking about this but, where do you start? And how do you know if you've got all that you need from the system?
MATTHEW WRIGHT:
So, what happens is, here in Victoria, there will be a trialled roll out, and so they will start with the northern suburbs, and then head to Ballarat, is my understanding and then there will be different sites that join in, and eventually encompassing the whole state,but Minister Foley made it clear that there will be 105,000 people with disability that will now benefit from the NDIS as a result of the signing of these agreements, which is fantastic news.
TONY EASTLY:
Matthew Wright, going back to what I mentioned before about the discrepancy in the different states signing up, Queensland's Treasurer, Curtis Pitt says he needs the Federal Government to give fair access to the Medicare levy, so Queensland taxpayers, you know they've been paying that since July 2014, how much of a lag time are we going to see between the other states signing up to this?
MATTHEW WRIGHT:
Well I would absolutely hope that there isn't much lag time, and I would encourage all of those State Ministers and the Federal Minister to get on board and finish those agreements.
I think that we can be very proud of Victoria and New South Wales and the work that has been done by Minister Foley, Minister Ajaka, and Federal Minister Fifield in getting those agreements done, but it's very important that the rest of the states follow suit so we don't have a two-tier system for people with disability.
TONY EASTLY:
But you can appreciate the point, the people in Queensland on one side of the Tweed are saying well you know, well when are we going to get our skates on and get this organised, and every day will make a difference for these people.
MATTHEW WRIGHT:
Yep, and I absolutely agree with the Queenslanders there. It's very important that we roll out the scheme consistently, and as I said before I would strongly encourage the State Ministers and the Federal Minister Fifield to get together and complete these agreements in the interests of people with disability and their families, who have been waiting so long for these critical supports.
KUMI TAGUCHI:
Matthew Wright, speaking to us a little earlier there.