Michael Sukkar MP

LABOR CONTINUES TO FALL SHORT ON NDIS REFORM

THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP

Shadow Minister for Social Services

Shadow Minister for NDIS

Shadow Minister for Housing

Shadow Minister for Homelessness

MEDIA RELEASE

18 April 2023

LABOR CONTINUES TO FALL SHORT ON NDIS REFORM

Australians remain in the dark about what the Government is proposing to do with the NDIS following Bill Shorten’s broad address at the National Press Club.

NDIS participants and taxpayers eagerly wanted to hear how the Albanese Government would specifically tackle the worsening challenges faced by the NDIS and were unfortunately left none the wiser.

After nearly 12 months of kicking key decisions down the road, all Bill Shorten could provide was the usual prevaricating motherhood statements, identifying issues without providing detailed solutions.

Instead of focusing on workforce provider shortages, this Minister was more fixated on the bureaucracy within the NDIA, failing to address the core issues participants face within the Scheme and refusing to detail any policy decisions or a legislative reform agenda.

Bill Shorten went to the election telling anyone who would listen that the NDIS was sustainable, and that plans would not go backwards while he was Minister, yet today, it is clear the Scheme has lost its way under Labor.

With a forecast blowout of $5.7 billion in the Scheme forecast for the upcoming May Budget, following an $8.8 billion overspend in October, the Albanese Government must now provide certainty to participants and outline the therapies and services that the Government inevitably intends to cut.

Since coming into Government, Labor has made a habit of outsourcing problems, and in this case, an Independent Review is doing all the heavy lifting.

This Minister and the Labor Government need to be honest with NDIS participants and their families, and not just use them as props for cheap headlines and photo opportunities.

Ends