Malcolm Turnbull has created a piggy bank of pain to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by cutting savagely into support that vulnerable Victorians rely on.
30,000 people with disabilities over the next three years will have their disability payments cut and their capacity to work reassessed, with the Commonwealth providing no support or incentives for businesses to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The Turnbull Government has also axed a vital information campaign for people with disability at its most crucial time as we approach the 1 July NDIS launch date.
Malcolm Turnbull’s first budget hides $1.64 billion of harsh cuts to fund the NDIS and has introduced legislation to create a smoke screen special account which further delays the Commonwealth from paying its fair share.
This budget breaks the Prime Minister’s commitment to deliver on a range of promises including disability housing, training and support for advocacy for making sure people with a disability can live the ordinary life they were promised.
The 2013-2014 Budget set out a 10-year funding plan for the NDIS which included the Medicare Levy, existing Commonwealth spending on disability, contributions from state and territory governments as well as a number of savings which the Coalition supported.
These funds already sit in the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the Medicare Levy is already being collected through the DisabilityCare Australia Fund.
Victoria has signed its Bilateral Agreement with the Commonwealth, committing its contribution of $2.5 billion annually to the NDIS, meaning the end of waiting lists and rationed-support services.
Victoria is doing its bit, the 2013 Budget did its bit and the DisabilityCare Australia Fund in Consolidated Revenue is there awaiting any money the Commonwealth wishes to contribute to.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley
“Malcolm’s piggy bank of pain is the wrong approach in funding the NDIS.”
“It shows that the Coalition Government can’t deliver big reforms – with no mention of sector development, workforce or housing when we are days away from July 1.”
“It shows he is out of touch with struggling Victorians – making them pay when the scheme was fully funded and able to be delivered.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020