PEOPLE with Disability Australia (PWDA), the national cross-disability rights and representative organisation, is deeply concerned that state and territory governments are delaying the rollout of foundational supports.
The group says this is leaving millions of people with disability to continue without access to essential services – at a time when NDIS reforms are restricting access and reducing supports available under the scheme.
PWDA President Trinity Ford said this delay amounted to an abandonment of responsibility by state and territory governments, who walked away from disability services when the NDIS was introduced and are now refusing to step up when people need support the most.
“People with disability are being squeezed from both sides,” Ms Ford said.
“The NDIS is tightening access, reducing the supports available to many participants, and now states and territories are refusing to deliver the services they were always responsible for.
“This is a crisis of their own making. States and territories cut disability services, handed everything to the NDIS, and now they are kicking the can down the road instead of fixing the gaps they created. People with disability cannot afford to wait while governments play politics with their lives.”
PWDA Deputy CEO Megan Spindler-Smith said foundational supports must be properly funded and co-designed to ensure people with disability can access services they need – whether they are able to access the NDIS or not.
“The NDIS was never meant to be the only support system for people with disability, but because state and territory governments stopped maintaining their responsibilities, it remains the only option for far too many people with disability. Now, with the Scheme restricting access and supports, rolling out foundational supports is more important than ever,” Spindler-Smith said.
“If states and territories are no longer willing to co-fund these services, they are continuing to leave people without essential supports.”
