Media Release by The Hon Paul Fletcher MP

NDIS full scheme agreement for the Australian Capital Territory

Joint Media Release with:

  • ACT Minister for Disability
    Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA

The Commonwealth and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) governments have reached a landmark agreement that locks in enduring arrangements for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the ACT.

Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher, said the agreement is a significant step forward in the full rollout of the NDIS across Australia.

“This agreement sets in place long-term funding and governance arrangements for the NDIS, providing certainty to the people of the ACT that the future of the Scheme and its funding is secure,” Mr Fletcher said.

“The ACT Government has committed to make fixed, upfront funding contributions each year, with the Commonwealth paying the balance of Scheme costs in the ACT.

“The agreement also enables the ACT to access $118 million of DisabilityCare Australia Fund payments between 2019–20 and 2023–24, further securing the sustainability of the Scheme.

ACT Minister for Disability, Rachel Stephen-Smith, said reaching this agreement underscores the ACT Government’s commitment to supporting people with disability.

“The ACT was the first jurisdiction to enable all eligible people with disability to participate in the NDIS.

“The Scheme is now providing life-changing support to around 7,000 Canberrans with disability, more than half of whom were not previously receiving government funded disability supports.

“The NDIS gives people with disability choice and control over their own support, and this agreement provides long-term certainty for the Scheme in the ACT,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

The ACT full scheme agreement will take effect from 1 July 2019.

The ACT is the fourth state or territory to reach a full scheme agreement for the NDIS, following New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.