Media Release by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

It’s time to stand up for local people with disability

Joint Media Release with:

  • Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Minister for Disability Reform

The Far North Queensland community has signalled their strong support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) at a community forum held in Cairns today.

The Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas joined local people with disability, their families and carers, local service providers and advocacy groups to update them on progress towards an NDIS.

“The Australian Government is working to build an NDIS to make sure Australians with disability get the care and support they need, no matter where they live or how they acquired their disability,” Minister Macklin said.

“We want to ensure that accessing services is no longer a cruel lottery depending on where you live, what kind of disability you have and how you acquired that disability.”

“Over the last two weeks, South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and New South Wales have all come to the table to secure a launch site in their state.

“Now it’s time for Queensland to take up the opportunity to be part of next year’s launch of an NDIS.

“It is clear that local people with disability here in the Far North, their families and carers, and local disability service organisations want to be part of an NDIS.

“The Queensland Government could put in as little as $20 million to help fund an NDIS launch in the state. This investment would be matched with at least $40 million from the Australian Government and would ensure that people with disability in Queensland can start to benefit from an NDIS from next year.

“The offer for a Queensland launch site is still on the table and I encourage Premier Campbell Newman to listen to the strong voices of people with disability in Queensland and get involved.”

Senator McLucas today urged local MPs in Far North Queensland to stand up for local people with disability.

“I have had countless phone calls, letters and emails in the last week from local people – people with disability, mums and dads of children with disability, carers, families, disability service organisations, the list goes on – expressing their desperation for Premier Newman and his Government to join with other states and be part of an NDIS.

“I urge the Member for Cairns, Gavin King, Member for Barron River, Michael Trout and Member for Cook, David Kempton to listen to their constituents and tell Premier Newman that the time is now.

“Our government is making a $1 billion investment in the launch of an NDIS; we are prepared to do the heavy lifting to get this done.”