The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, moved amendments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill in Parliament today which would have ensured the NDIS included independent advocacy services for people with disability. The amendments were defeated in the House of Representatives with the Government and Opposition indicating they did not support Mr Wilkie’s amendments.
Mr Wilkie said appropriately funding and recognising the importance of disability advocates were crucial to ensuring services delivered through the NDIS remained fair and equitable.
“Disability advocates provide an essential service in speaking up for the interests of Australians living with disability,” Mr Wilkie said.
“It’s disappointing that the Parliament didn’t recognise the importance of disability advocates by supporting these amendments.”
The amendments covered three broad areas:
· Included the provision of advocacy services in the ‘guiding principles’ of the NDIS bill.
· Allowed NDIS funds to be moved from the National Disability Insurance Agency, the agency created under the NDIS Bill, to other government agencies for the purpose of funding independent disability advocacy services.
· Created the capacity for NDIS funds to be allocated for the establishment of a national complaints handling mechanism to quickly and efficiently resolve any complaints arising from the provision of care under the NDIS.
Download amendments
AMNDT_Wilkie_National_Disability_Insurance_Scheme_Bill_2012.pdf
Andrew Wilkie, MP, Independent Member for Denison
