National Disability Insurance Scheme

National Press Club Address - Rhonda Galbally

7 October 2009

On 7 October, Dr Rhonda Galbally AO addressed the National Press Club in Canberra on 7 October, presenting 'Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia'.

Recently released by the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council, Shut Out is the product of extensive nationwide consultations with people with a disability their families, friends and carers. Shut Out reveals the full extent of the exclusion and discrimination experienced by people with a disability and their families. Shut out of schools, shut out of jobs, shut out of housing, shut out of health care, shut out of community groups – the report reveals the many ways people with a disability are prevented from becoming active and full participants in the economic, social and cultural life of the nation.

Dr Galbally spoke convincingly about the need for a National Disability Insurance Scheme - its substantial social and economc benefits and the growing chorus of supporters. 'There is a genuine sense of excitement that after so many years of struggle we might just be on the cusp of real life changing reform.'

Read Dr Galbally's National Press Club address in full (PDF).

AMA Pledges Support

7 October 2009

The Australian Medical Association has formally pledged its support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme and is urging other health professional groups to get behind the campaign.

A media release from the AMA states:

'AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today the AMA fully supports the call by Australia’s disability and community sector for a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The call was made at the National Press Club by Dr Rhonda Galbally, Patron of the National Disability and Carer Alliance and Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council, on behalf of a broad coalition of supporters.

The proposed Scheme is in line with the AMA’s long-held policy for a long term care scheme for the severely disabled.

Dr Pesce said the AMA today formally pledged its support for the concept of a National Disability Insurance Scheme by joining the campaign organised by the disability and community sector.

“I urge other health professional groups to get behind this campaign,” Dr Pesce said.

Dr Pesce said there were many compelling reasons why the AMA and doctors are enthusiastic about a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“Doctors are strong supporters of social justice and equity and believe that people with a disability and their families have a right to participate in the community and be supported to do so,” Dr Pesce said.

“Every day, doctors around Australia see the downstream impact of inadequate early support and assistance because we regularly provide medical care for people with disabilities.

“And many doctors get frustrated at being unable to get assistance, care coordination and support services in the community for their patients who have a disability.

“A National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide fairness, equity and a better quality of life for disabled people, their families and their carers.

“It is very encouraging that there is growing community support for such a scheme, and the AMA urges the Government to respond positively to this community sentiment.”'

Shorten Speech in WA

12 August 2009

A significant speech by Bill Shorten to the WA Disability Collective on 6 August following the release of the Shut Out report.

'How we're looking after people with a long-term impairment is a major public policy issue. The 2020 summit threw out a challenge to the Rudd Government. It called for a national disability insurance scheme, both for those catastrophically injured, and for those born with a disability.

As part of developing the National Disability Strategy, we will examine the implications and the potential of such schemes, I hope. An idea like the National Disability Insurance Scheme is ambitious and complex. So is Medicare. So is superannuation' ...

'I think that it is possible to put forward an idea, and then encourage people to own an idea and be empowered and to educate their neighbours and their fellow citizens about the power of an idea ...

'In this cycle of status quo or change, it is not inevitable, but it certainly can be brought to life, and it is possible with the combination, I believe, of clear ideas and animated supporters, who are capable not of necessarily just convincing the politicians - because in my experience, most politicians, left, right, various colours, whatever, they get the importance of disability. But it is only when the electorate demands the urgency of the issues can you see genuine change.'

So - it's up to us to convince our families, friends, colleagues and community to add their voices to the call for a National Disability Insurance Scheme. Please encourage them to take action now.

National Disability Strategy

5 August 2009

The National Disability Strategy Consultation Report has identified ‘the adequate financing of disability support’ as one of its four strategic priorities.

The report, 'Shut Out: the Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia' was prepared by the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council. It was informed by the views of hundreds of people who attended National Disability Strategy consutations and over 750 written submissions.

The report noted the need for a lifetime care and support scheme ...

'A significant number of submissions argued that the fundamental reform required to achieve lasting change in the disability service and support system should be extended to the funding of the system itself. These submissions made it clear that despite recent commitments to an increase in resources, the system is unable to meet current need and has limited capacity to meet anticipated increases in demand. Respondents also spoke of a pressing need to address inequities in the system, which result in people with disabilities receiving different levels of support depending on how their disability was acquired. According to these submissions, the only answer to the problems confronting the system is to create a model of funding in which resources are available irrespective of changes to the economic climate or variability in political will. While details varied, these submissions argued that a lifetime care and support scheme would remove existing inequities and provide the resources needed to ensure people with disabilities are able to reach their full potential and live as independently as possible'.

Dr Ken Baker from National Disability Services has endorsed the findings, adding, 'The rights of many people with severe disability will remain an abstraction unless those people have guaranteed access to flexible responsive support services (including aids and equipment). A national disability insurance scheme would fix a major hole in Australia’s safety net.' 

Shorten - national plan

5 August 2009

A national insurance scheme that would cover the costs of those with disabilities should be investigated, says the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Mr Shorten will today make public a discussion paper calling for a national plan for people with a disability. 'It argues that the existing system of providing services to those with disabilities is too flawed to be fixed and needs to be replaced.'

Read the full article, Call to lift disabled out of exile.

ABC AM - Bruce Bonyhady

27 July 2009

Saturday's AM program on ABC radio featured an interview by Nance Haxton with Bruce Bonyhady.

The catalyst for the interview were the two recent devastating events - in South Australia and NSW - involving teenagers with a disability. The events are the sign of a disability system in crisis.

In the interview, Bruce Bonyhady called for national reform - a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

'Disability is something that can affect anyone but won't affect everyone, and so the fairest way of funding such a scheme would be some sort of national levy, like the Medicare levy.

So it would be a universal insurance scheme that we would all pay for and then in the unfortunate event that we acquire a disability ourselves or our children or grandchildren have a disability, we would be covered, in just the same way as Medicare provides cover.

It's something that I think governments and people throughout the disability sector are looking at as possibly the answer'.

Read the transcript or listen to the entire interview National disability insurance scheme needed to support the disabled on the AM website.

AMA endorsement

22 July 2009

The President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has highlighted his support for a long-term care entitlement scheme for Australians with severe disability.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Dr Andrew Pesce said that this was an idea that the AMA would be championing during his term as President.

AMA policy supports the 'establishment of a long-term care scheme for the provision of benefits and services on a no-fault basis to:
• all children with permanent disability diagnosed before 18 years of age requiring at least two hours of personal care per day for their lifetime; and
• all adults catastrophically injured through an accident or from a serious and rare outcome arising from medical treatment requiring at least two hours of personal care per day for their lifetime.

These long-term care services should include: support for accommodation appropriate to age, needs and circumstances; case management and coordination; attendant care needs; domestic support and home maintenance; and counselling and support.'

Promotion of a National Disability Insurance Scheme is the highest priority of a new National Disability and Carer Alliance comprised of NDS, Carers Australia and the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations. Dr Pesce committed the AMA to work with the National Disability and Carer Alliance to progress the idea.

Read Dr Pesce's full address to the National Press Club.

Alan Jones and Bill Shorten

20 July 2009

Alan Jones has once again strongly supported a National Disability Insurance Scheme, in an interview with Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten.

Jones reminded listeners that, 'No one wants to remember that one of the big ideas adopted at PM Kevin Rudd's 2020 Summit was a National Disability Insurance Scheme'.

Shorten indicated that he supports the implementation of such an insurance scheme, but admited that it 'won't happen quickly'. Jones asked Shorten why we can't have a Medicare type disability levy, which he feels would have public acceptance. Shorten confirmed that more research needs to be done to customise a system for the country. This was supported by caller, Mary Lou Carter who urged the government to conduct a feasibility study for an NDIS.

You can add your voice to this call, by downloading and circulating the NDIS Petition and sharing your story about how an NDIS could change your life on this website. Organisations can also endorse the concept by completing the Organisational Suporters' form.

Support from Disability & Carer Alliance

23 June 2009

A new National Disability and Carer Alliance (NDCA) has identified the campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme as one of its first priorities.

The Alliance brings together Australia's major disability and carer organisations - with representatives from the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, National Disability Services and Carers Australia.

Its vision is an Australian society that ensures the equal social, economic, civic and cultural participation of people with disabilities, their families and carers.

View the NDCA media release.

Geraldine Doogue - ABC Radio National

13 June 2009

Today, ABC Radio National's Saturday Extra featured an extensive interview with Yooralla Chairman, Bruce Bonyhady, who spoke compellingly about the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Host, Geraldine Doogue, gave the topic her usual thoughtful attention, allowing Bruce to share details about the scheme, the work of the Disability Task Force and the necessity for a full feasibility study.

Download or listen to the interview with Bruce Bonyhady on the ABC Radio National website.