Tasmanians with disability welcome funding for NDIS

Cosmos staff, clients and their families have welcomed today’s introduction by Prime Minister Julia
Gillard of a budget bill to help fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The budget bill, introduced in parliament today, detailed that a rise in the Medicare levy of
0.5 per cent will be used to fund half of the scheme, marking the beginning of DisabilityCare
Australia.

Cosmos CEO Catherine Viney said the announcement was another landmark in making sure there
was fairness and equality of opportunity for all Australians.

“Historically, people with disabilities and their carers have had to fight for every ounce of support
from the government,” Ms Viney said.

“The legislation introduced today by the Gillard government is testimony to its commitment to all
those Australians with a disability.

“Lobbying for DisabilityCare has been a very long journey for some of us, and to see our grassroots
campaign culminate into this announcement today is just fantastic.

“The funding provided from the rise in the Medicare levy will pay for half of the scheme and has
removed much of the uncertainty surrounding the NDIS.

“This will mean 280 Cosmos clients will be able to decide what types of support they need and a
further 560 individuals, including primary carers (families), will be indirectly supported.”

Cosmos is an award-winning community organisation offering learning opportunities for people
with intellectual disabilities in southern Tasmania.
Cosmos