The Summer Foundation welcomes the announcements made by Minister Reynolds on Friday 9 July 2021 advising the outcomes of the Disability Ministers’ Meeting.
All State and Territory Disability Ministers participate in the Disability Ministers’ Meeting, alongside federal Minister for the NDIS, Senator Hon Linda Reynolds, to collectively guide and shape the NDIS. At the meeting on 9 July it is clear the interests of NDIS participants are front and centre in decision-making.
The Summer Foundation is pleased to work with disability ministers at the federal and state level who have demonstrated such a strong commitment to working in partnership with people with disability and the sector. We congratulate all ministers on the decisions made and outcomes of this meeting.
Collectively, we now have the chance to shape an approach that constructively meets the needs of NDIS participants while enabling equity in access to supports and consistency in planning processes. Personalised budgets and flexible planning will further enable NDIS participants to have choice and control over their lives, build independence and work towards their goals.
We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with government at all levels, people with disability, the sector and the NDIA.
Outcomes of the Disability Ministers Meeting on 9 July are:
- Agreeing to undertake further work to understand the assumptions and cost drivers that underpin the actuarial modelling. This will allow ministers to form a unified understanding in order to develop a pathway forward together
- Recognising the Commonwealth’s willingness to provide greater transparency and a commitment to a multi-partisan approach
- Discussing the outcomes of the independent assessments (IA) evaluation report and IAC consultation report
- Noting the IAC Report which was well received by all ministers. The IAC was warmly acknowledged for their hard work, frank advice and professionalism – and it will help guide our pathway forward
- Agreeing with recommendation 1 of the IAC Report that independent assessments do not proceed. Importantly, all ministers agreed to work in partnership with those with lived disability experience on the design of a person-centred model. A model that will deliver consistency and equity of both access and planning outcomes. A model consistent with the assessment requirements under the NDIS Act
- Discussions on a pathway for NDIS legislation, including the legislating of the Participant Service Guarantee, the Tune Review recommendations and measures to address fraud and unscrupulous provider practices in the Spring sitting
You can see the full media release from Minister Reynolds here.