NDIS trial for Barwon Region in Victoria
The Prime Minister's positive response last Friday to my detailed proposal for an NDIS trial in the Barwon Region has been welcomed by all Victorians particularly those in the Barwon Region with a disability, their carers, and their families.
Victoria's proposal to the Commonwealth would deliver a better NDIS trial for the Barwon region.
Victoria has offered an additional $42 million over the period of the trial. This is more than the $40 million that the Prime Minister publicly proposed for a Victorian trial.
It is also higher than the new funding being provided by the other jurisdictions that will be hosting a trial.
This $42 million is in addition to the $240 million already committed over the three-year trial period by the Victorian Coalition Government for disability services in Barwon region.
Victoria's trial for the Barwon Region would:
- secure a trial for 5,000 Victorian's with a disability in the Barwon Region;
- provide an additional $17 million over the period of the trial for existing clients, matching the benchmark funding required by the Commonwealth;
- bring forward the start of the trial to 1 July 2013, a year earlier than the Commonwealth's proposal for 1 July 2014 commencement in Barwon;
- provide a one-off payment of $25 million to secure the establishment of the National Disability Transition Agency in Geelong, the home of Victoria's Transport Accident Commission, an acknowledged leader in social insurance schemes;
- allow the Commonwealth to direct further funding to new clients in the Barwon Region; and
- provide NDIS expansion funding arrangements that are consistent with the Productivity Commission's recommendations and the previous understanding of the States.The Victorian Coalition Government has been a leader and a champion of the NDIS.
The Victorian Coalition Government looks forward to finalising the details for the implementation of Victoria's Barwon Region trial over the coming days.
