Michael Sukkar MP

INTERVIEW WITH LAURA JAYES, SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA

THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP – SHADOW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, NDIS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

TRANSCRIPT

INTERVIEW WITH LAURA JAYES, SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA

Tuesday, 17 January 2023

TOPICS: Senator Jim Molan, NDIS

E&OE

LAURA JAYES: Joining me live now is the Shadow NDIS Minister, Michael Sukkar – Michael thanks so much for your time. Before we talk about this issue, I think it’s fitting to convey our sorrow for the passing of your colleague Jim Molan.

MICHAEL SUKKAR: Thank you, Laura, and it is real sorrow. Many of us knew that Jim was battling some pretty difficult health issues over recent years and he did so in a way that still discharged all of his obligations as a senator and as a man devoted to his family. All I can say is it’s a hard day for the Liberal family today because Jim really embodied service before self, whether that was service in his time in the military – and we all saw the remarkable heights that his career went in the military – to then coming and supporting the early days of the Abbott government with Operation Sovereign Borders – An enduring legacy for this country, securing borders. Then, of course becoming a senator, and as a friend I can say that he’s someone who always had a really considered perspective, he saw the best in people and even where he disagreed with people he could do so in a way that maintained a friendship or a level or courtesy, and in that sense was a great example to all elected representatives.

LAURA JAYES: Really well said, Michael. He loomed large in everything he did, he was certainly an example of someone who gave his life to public service in many facets indeed. Let me ask you about the NDIS now, Bill Shorten says there’s problems with it, this report does show this in group homes. What do you think needs to be done here?

MICHAEL SUKKAR: There’s no doubt that there are significant issues and credit to the agency for undertaking this review. I think a very troubling aspect of the report and the statistics were that they’re getting worse, and in fact the three months to December were the highest number of reportable incidents which means sadly under the watch of the new Government this is getting worse, not better. We agree with some of the basic observations of the report in relation to regulatory changes, there’s going to be a consultation process now I understand, of what changes are required. People, particularly those who are vulnerable need to feel safe and secure in their home, whether that’s in group accommodation or independent living – regardless of their circumstances. I think troublingly the report pointed to a number of deficiencies with workforce and that exacerbating some of the problems with these reportable incidents. I would just say to the Government – time is of the essence, they can’t be asleep at the wheel, the number of incidents are getting worse and have got worse at an alarming rate since their election. I would just call on them with good will to get moving. Commissioning reports and undertaking reviews has been the hallmark of the Government thus far with the NDIS. Now is the time for action, particularly given this report has provided such a stark series of problems.

LAURA JAYES: Where is the evidence it has got worse since they were election? This report looks at four years, the Labor Government hasn’t been in power for a year yet.

MICHAEL SUKKAR: The reportable incidents for the three months up to December have been the highest, that’s the evidence. That September quarter last year has seen an alarming spike in reportable incidents. I haven’t gone through line-by-line and examined those many hundreds of incidents, but there’s no doubt there’s been a spike. All I’m saying is given that the problem is getting worse under Labor’s watch, they need to move really quickly.

LAURA JAYES: What do you think that spike is down to, though? Because as you say they’ve just put in reviews, they haven’t changed the architecture of this Scheme just yet, so where does that spike come from, do you think?

MICHAEL SUKKAR: The report doesn’t break that down or segment it in that sense to attribute a spike to any given issue. I would just say given that it is getting worse and has got worse under their watch, that they really need to move extraordinarily quickly. I can appreciate a new Government coming in and undertaking review after review and trying to get their feet under the desk, but it’s now been seven months. The Government needs to get moving – the problem is getting worse, not better and people who are living in group accommodation deserve to feel safe in their homes, deserve the best level of care in their homes. There’s a range of other issues in the report that don’t just relate to all the troubling reportable incidents – but some of the issues with people in different circumstances or when their circumstances change – the regulatory environment not enabling to access the services that they need in a timely fashion. I don’t profess that any of these issues are simple, but given that the problems are getting worse, I really do expect and hope that the Government will move very quickly, rather than what I think has been their instinct to date which has been to just commission report after report which has been without necessarily acting and making changes

LAURA JAYES: Michael Sukkar, thanks so much for your time.