Federal liberals fail victorians with a disability

Thousands of Victorians are still waiting to receive the funding and services they desperately need under Scott Morrison’s botched rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today called on the Federal Liberal Government to step up and finally deliver an NDIS plan to the estimated 336 people waiting for an approved plan in the Macedon electorate so they can lead the happy and healthy lives they deserve.

In Victoria there are more than 105,000 people with a disability who need to transfer to the NDIS by the end of June this year. The most recent data published by the NDIA showed that only just over 65,000 people had done so by 31 March 2019.

A new analysis by the Victorian Government reveals the true extent of the delay for vulnerable people in the Macedon electorate. In addition to people who have been delayed entering the NDIS, many more are in the scheme but are still waiting for their plan to be approved.

Long waiting times have placed unfair stress on individuals, carers and families who continue to suffer because of the Liberals’ poor staffing levels and processes that don’t adequately support people with a disability – particularly those with complex needs.

The Labor Government has had to intervene and create a specialised unit in the Department of Health and Human Services to do the Commonwealth’s work by helping over 28,000 individual clients transition to the NDIS.

Disturbingly, hundreds of clients have also had to be added back into the system due to the Commonwealth striking off Victorian clients who simply didn’t answer the phone after three phone calls.

The Labor Government is due to invest $2.5 billion next financial year towards the NDIS and will continue to call on the Federal Liberals to stop short-changing people with a disability.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas:
"Scott Morrison has failed people in the Macedon electorate with a disability for long enough and needs to properly fund, and staff the NDIS so it can be delivered as it was promised."

"The Federal Liberals have had six years and five Ministers to roll out the NDIS, yet they continue to delay people from getting the care they really need."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan:
"It’s simply unacceptable that thousands of Victorians with a disability are being forced by the Federal Liberals to wait so long to get the help they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives."

"Time and time again, Victoria has called on Scott Morrison and the Federal Liberals to fix this mess, but for years they’ve refused – leaving vulnerable people without the care they need."