ABC News 24 with Joe O’Brien
E & OE
O’BRIEN:
For the Government’s position on the NDIS rollout I’m joined now by the Minister responsible, Senator Mitch Fifield. Senator Fifield welcome. So this is still in the very early stages of the National Disability Scheme. Overall how do you think it’s going so far?
FIFIELD:
Look we’re pretty much where we aimed to be and wanted to be at this stage. We had four trial sites commence in the middle of last year. Three trial sites commenced in the middle of this year. We have about 9,000 participants in the scheme to date. We’ve spent about $400 million. We’ve got some serious work to do over the next six months as we negotiate the bilateral agreements with the various jurisdictions for the full rollout. But look we’re learning lessons from the trial sites as was the intent. A lot of work to do but there is a lot of good will on the part of all groups to make this work.
O’BRIEN:
Are you aware of this situation in the ACT where there seems to have been what’s described by some people as a hasty transition between the services that might be provided at the State or Territory level, and the new Scheme coming in?
FIFIELD:
Look, parallel to the introduction of the NDIS, a number of states who have been in the business of direct service provision are going to get out of that business. Some states like Victoria, haven’t been in that business for a long time. So it’s a decision which is coincident to the NDIS, but not a product of it. But it’s really important that we make sure that there aren’t service gaps there. The ACT Government have flagged that they’ll be concluding this year their early intervention services, so the National Disability Insurance Agency has conducted a tender, to make sure that that gap is filled and to give the market in the ACT time to develop and new service providers time to enter. But it’s really important that the States and Territories maintain their commitment up to the point where the NDIS will take over.
O’BRIEN:
Are you convinced that that retreat from the sector hasn’t been too hasty in the ACT and those services will be able to be filled?
FIFIELD:
Well let me just say that the ACT has set a very brisk pace in relation to their timetable for ceasing services. And I say to State and Territory governments, what we’ve all got to do is keep our eyes on the individuals to make sure that in the transition they continue to be well serviced.
O’BRIEN:
So you say that’s a brisk pace, do you think that decision should be revisited?
FIFIELD:
We want to monitor it carefully and make sure that there isn’t a service gap. But I heard Ken Baker say earlier that he’s confident that his members, who are the private providers and not-for-profit providers, do have the capacity to meet that demand.
O’BRIEN:
As you say, it was always intended in these trial period that there would be challenges identified and talked about how they could be overcome. One of the big issues at this stage seems to be accommodation. What are your plans in relation to addressing that significant challenge in the years ahead?
FIFIELD:
Well, I think it’s important to recognise that the NDIS will have a strategic role in relation to supported accommodation. Certainly there’ll be recurrent funding for personal attendant care for people who need that support to be able to live in the place of their choosing. Then there’s the other side of things. There’s the bricks and mortar. There will be the opportunity for the NDIS to partner with other organisations. You might have a group of ageing parent carers, who’ve got a bit of capital, who’ve got some land that a church has donated, the sums don’t quite add up and they might put a proposition to the Agency, and the Agency can leverage. Or it might be a disability organisation that has a good proposition. I think that’s the way for the Agency to support people who want to live independently. But, it’s also really important that whatever the Agency does, does not provide the opportunity for State and Territory governments to abrogate their ongoing and core responsibility for public and social housing. That will remain a State and Territory responsibility. But the Agency will have a role in seeking to partner with other organisations and leverage their investments.
O’BRIEN:
Will the Agency itself be involved in constructing accommodation?
FIFIELD:
No. The Agency won’t be a builder or an owner of housing. That’s not part of their business. That’s not part of their charter. What their opportunity is, is to use some of the Agency’s funds to partner with other organisations and to leverage the commitments that they might be making.
O’BRIEN:
And in the current budget situation, can you see that there are going to be strains on the situation with the NDIS over the coming years, as there is in other sectors of Government spending?
FIFIELD:
The NDIS is core Government business. And that is providing support to people who face extra challenges for reasons beyond their control. And the Government in its first budget honoured its commitment that the NDIS would be fully provided for in that budget year and in the forward estimates. And it’s one of the reasons why we’re seeking to cut our cloth in other portfolio areas, is to make sure that we have the funds for what I see as the core business of government.
O’BRIEN:
Okay, Senator Fifield thanks for talking to us today.
FIFEILD:
Thanks very much Joe.
ENDS