Media Release by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

Meeting to discuss impact of a National Disability Insurance Scheme on local people

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator Louise Pratt, Senator for Western Australia
  • Gary Gray MP, Federal Member for Brand

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas and Senator for Western Australia, Louise Pratt today joined local people with disability, their families, carers and service providers to discuss the roll-out of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Rockingham, Kwinana and Mandurah.

Federal Member for Brand, Gary Gray welcomed Senator McLucas’ visit to provide locals with an update on the progress of an NDIS.

“We know how important it is to get the vital elements of an NDIS right, and that means getting the input of locals,” Mr Gray said.

“The Gillard Government is working towards building a national scheme and we are committed to getting on with the ground work to make an NDIS a reality for people with disability, their families and carers right here in Brand.”

Senator McLucas said the Gillard Government is delivering $1 billion for the first stage of an NDIS to be rolled out in five locations across the country starting from July 2013 – a year ahead of the timetable set out by the Productivity Commission.

“We made it clear in our budget what our priorities were by committing $1 billion to roll out the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“The Gillard Government is working to build a National Disability Insurance Scheme to make sure Australians with disability get the care and support they need, no matter where they live or how they acquired their disability,” Senator McLucas said.

“An NDIS has the potential to do for disability what Medicare did for health in this country, what superannuation did for retirement savings, what HECS did for education.”

Senator Pratt said she was proud to be a part of a Government that’s making this change happen and will continue working closely with the local community as an NDIS becomes a reality.

“I know from my engagement with the community that there is strong support for an NDIS,” Senator Pratt said.

“People with disability, their carers and the wider disability sector in this region can be assured that the Government will continue to stand by them as we work to deliver an NDIS.”

Senator McLucas said the first stage of an NDIS will provide care and support to about 20,000 people with significant and permanent disabilities.

“Eligible people with disability will have their needs assessed, and will be supported to develop individual plans to deliver ongoing personalised care and support over their lifetime.”

For more information on the NDIS, go to www.ndis.gov.au.