COAG Disability Reform Council Communiqué

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Disability Reform Council (the Council) met today via TelePresence. The meeting was chaired by Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Assistant Minister for Social Services.

All governments remain firmly committed to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) consistent with the Heads of Agreements. In Western Australia, a comparative trial of the NDIA and My Way models will inform future decisions about rollout of the NDIS. All other jurisdictions are working closely with the NDIA to deliver the full national rollout of the NDIS.

Transition to the NDIS full scheme

The Council noted the NDIA Board’s advice. The Council asked Commonwealth and State officials to work together, and with the NDIA, to consider feasible options for transition. Ministers noted that it is early days for the three trials that commenced in WA, ACT and NT on 1 July 2014 and the lessons from these trials will also need to be taken into account as the full scheme rolls out. Officials will report on progress to the next meeting of the Council.

Implementation of the NDIS

The Council finalised advice to COAG on progress with implementation of the NDIS to date, including interactions between the scheme and other services and the not-for-profit sector. Progress includes a range of activities the Commonwealth and State and Territories are undertaking to prepare for the transition to full scheme.

Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS Progress Report

The Council also considered the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee Progress Report and agreed an approach to consider the five recommendations that relate to the work of the Council.

National Injury Insurance Scheme

The Council noted that Commonwealth and State officials are working on the policy development of a National Injury Insurance Scheme, including implementation issues and the identification of appropriate funding sources, prior to governments making decisions about NIIS implementation. Stakeholders will be consulted on a COAG Regulation Impact Statement before a decision is made on minimum benchmarks.

The Council noted that work is continuing on workplace accidents, medical treatment injury and general accidents and that work will be finalised the Council on Federal Financial Relations.

Quality and Safeguards in the NDIS

The Council discussed development of a nationally consistent risk based quality and safeguards framework for the NDIS.