Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Human Services spokesperson
On this International Day of People with Disability, concerns are growing about the Federal Government tightening the screws on the National Disability Insurance Scheme with participants increasingly losing out.
Tasmanians living with a disability, their families and carers rightly celebrated the introduction of the NDIS in 2012. After decades of underfunding and policy neglect, for the first time people living with disability would be empowered and enabled to make their own choices and have control over the supports they receive.
The NDIS is transforming lives for the better, but the disability sector is becoming increasingly aware of changes to the scheme and penny pinching that are undermining it.
Some eligible participants are discovering their new Plans are leaving them worse off, while other participants are facing lengthy delays in the delivery of Plans and supports.
The Greens are also hearing that the next round of Plans won't contain 'aspirational goals' for participants, which have been a critical, important feature of the NDIS delivering life changing opportunities to people.
There is significant unease within the sector about the future of the NDIS. The Minister for Human Services needs to reassure Tasmanians living with a disability, their families, carers and people working in the sector, that the Tasmanian Government will fight to protect and uphold the principles, and the funding, of the NDIS.