NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds has defended plans to introduce independent assessment reforms to the disability scheme, but left the door open to changes in response to strong community backlash.
Senator Reynolds fronted a parliamentary inquiry into the controversial reforms on Tuesday where she was grilled about widespread concerns raised over the prospect of the changes.
Under the proposed reforms, participants would undergo independent assessments to determine their eligibility for the scheme, and the level of support and funding they receive.
The federal government in April placed a temporary pause to plans to roll out the measures by the middle of the year, in response to near-universal opposition in the disability sector.
Critics have warned the process will undermine participants’ control over the support they receive and raised concerns over a lack of consultation and clarity over their implementation.
Senator Reynolds on Tuesday promised she had heard the “anxiety and concern” being raised about the proposed reforms, but said she remains committed to introducing them in some form.
“I don't think any of them [the concerns] are insurmountable to address and there are real ways that we can make changes,” she told the hearing.
“But from my perspective that will only occur if we can find a way to work together.”
The federal government argues the reforms would see funding distributed more fairly as the NDIS grapples with increasing costs stemming from rising demand for the scheme.
The budget projections showed the cost of participant plans in the scheme would grow to $31.9 billion in 2024/25.
Senator Reynolds has described the current growth trajectory of the scheme as “unsustainable” saying “hard discussions” must be had over the scheme’s future.
“We all want the scheme to endure,” Senator Reynolds said.
“It is at a point where we do need legislative change ... where we do need to change some of our practices and processes including introduce the functional assessments.”
More than 450,000 Australians are supported by the $25 billion scheme, which is jointly funded by the federal and state and territory governments.
The committee heard that the number of participants signed up to the scheme is increasing by around 12 per cent each year. It has also increased by over 50 per cent between 2017 and 2020.
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations CEO Ross Joyce is among the advocates raising concerns over the proposed reforms.
Mr Joyce told the hearing on Tuesday he is not against “independent assessments” but has accused the government agency responsible of trying to “bully” through the reforms at rapid speed.
“It will not work, it will be to the detriment of people with disabilities and their families and we can't accept that as something that just gets pushed through,” he said.
“We do not accept the way it's been put forward. We have actually felt completely disrespected through the whole process.”
Under the current program, participants provide reports from their own medical specialists to be assessed for the scheme.
The packages are built on what is deemed "reasonable and necessary" for participants.
Senator Reynolds has outlined her intent to redefine the phrase in an effort to make its meaning more clear.
“We need to better define what reasonable and necessary is,” she said.
She said the current application of the meaning was leading to disparities in service outcomes.
“Those disparities are very clear right across the nation.
"Your post code and your socioeconomic circumstances absolutely drive the likelihood of your outcome - that is just not acceptable and that is not fair.”
Damian Griffis, CEO of the Indigenous Australians the First People’s Disability Network, earlier told the hearing the independent assessment reforms risked adding to these concerns.
“We believe the current reforms need to stop immediately,” he told the hearing.
“I have no confidence whatsoever that the panel of assessors [will] have any understanding of the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability.”
The committee also heard that the government had spent $84,000 on a marketing campaign designed to sell the controversial changes to the public.
