Media Release
The National Ethnic Disability Alliance “NEDA” holds grave concerns for the many people living with disability who are eligible to access the NDIS given the recent developments in Western Australia with the WA Government deciding to “go it alone” with their own scheme.
“I have every reason to believe that if WA had followed the national model and not a hybrid state version, we would have a truly national scheme that will be appropriately resourced, funded and administered. One word of caution must be issued at this point. Whatever disability system is adopted in WA it is imperative that people with disability are included in designing and implementing the system” stated NEDA President Suresh Rajan.
Another issue that is significant is that of the portability of benefits PWD’s can achieve across States and Territories. Assurances that this portability will be assured by way of agreement across the Premiers of each state have to be viewed with concern. WA’s experience in the allocation of GST revenues is a very troubling precedent. We have already seen the NDIA within the ACT, state that they are at capacity; will this be magnified in WA if they have an independent scheme?
WA is already cash strapped with the economy feeling the downturn from the mining sector. If WA opts out of the national model, it will seriously put at risk the well-being of people with disabilities. If the state is not able to match the Commonwealth scheme because of its economic woes.
“Of additional concern for NEDA is involvement of disability consumers from within the CaLD community. The NDIS is already investing in and developing strategies to engage parts of the community that are difficult to connect and engage with due to such things as Language difficulties; Will WA now need to develop all of these tools “in-house” or will the national body share these strategies and engagement process nationally? If WA were to go it alone, it might be many years behind in targeting those people most at risk because of a lack of policy development and engagement strategies” stated Mr Rajan.
If you require any further information, please contact the NEDA CEO Mr Dwayne Cranfield on 02 62626867 or Suresh Rajan NEDA President on 0413436001.