FEDERAL LIBERALS FAIL VICTORIANS WITH A DISABILITY

Thousands of Victorians are still waiting to receive the funding and services they desperately need under Scott Morrison’s botched rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas, Member for Altona Jill Hennessy and Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly today called on the Federal Liberal Government to step up and finally deliver an NDIS plan to the estimated 2,500 people in our region so they can lead the happy and healthy lives they deserve.

An estimated 829 people in Werribee, 864 people in Altona and 872 people in Tarneit are waiting to receive their NDIS plan – an estimated total of 2,565 people.

In Victoria there are more than 105,000 people with a disability who need to transfer to the NDIS by the end of June this year. The most recent data published by the NDIA showed that only just over 65,000 people had done so by 31 March 2019.

A new analysis by the Victorian Government reveals the true extent of the delay for vulnerable people in Wyndham. In addition to people who have been delayed entering the NDIS, many more are in the scheme but are still waiting for their plan to be approved.

Long waiting times have placed unfair stress on individuals, carers and families who continue to suffer because of the Liberals’ poor staffing levels and processes that don’t adequately support people with a disability – particularly those with complex needs.

The Labor Government has had to intervene and create a specialised unit in the Department of Health and Human Services to do the Commonwealth’s work by helping over 28,000 individual clients transition to the NDIS.

Disturbingly, hundreds of clients have also had to be added back into the system due to the Commonwealth striking off Victorian clients who simply didn’t answer the phone after three phone calls.

The Labor Government is due to be investing $2.5 billion next financial year towards the NDIS and will continue to call on the Federal Liberals to stop short changing people with a disability.

 

Quote attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“Scott Morrison has failed people in Wyndham with a disability for long enough and needs to properly fund, and staff the NDIS so it can be delivered as it was promised.”

Quote attributable to Member for Altona Jill Hennessy

“The Federal Liberals have had six years and five Ministers to roll out the NDIS, yet they continue to delay people from getting the care they need.”

Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly

 “It’s simply unacceptable that thousands of Wyndham residents with disabilities are being forced by the Federal Liberals to wait so long to get the help they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan

“Time and time again, Victoria has called on Scott Morrison and the Federal Liberals to fix this mess, but for years they’ve refused – leaving vulnerable people without the care they need.”