NDS News Update - NDIS Campaign Grows Louder

NDIS Campaign Grows Louder

Later this week radio advertisements promoting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will commence across Australia. National radio networks including Macquarie Radio and DMG (which includes Nova and Classic Rock) will broadcast three community service ads in rotation. A key theme will contrast the right to medical treatment in Australia with the absence of a similar right to disability support.


The 'Every Australian Counts' Campaign has also secured an in-principle commitment from a major television network to run free advertisements.


The Campaign is attracting endorsements from diverse sources.


Recently, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference voiced its support. "One of the hoped outcomes of the proposed NDIS will be to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people with disability, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity," the Catholic Bishops said.


In late June the Liberal Party's Federal Council passed a resolution moved by Shadow Minister Mitch Fifield, recognising that "the current system of support for Australians with a disability is broken," looking forward to the Productivity Commission's Draft Report on Disability Care and Support and calling for "a system of disability support, based on need, with the individual or their family in charge and able to choose the provider of their services."


The President of the powerful CFMEU, Tony Maher, has called the NDIS the 'light on the hill' needed in social policy: "As we live through the unprecedented resources boom, now is the right time to make big, transformational social policy decisions ... By the end of the year the government needs to respond to the recommendations of the Productivity Commission. It's time to lift our level of ambition. It's time we improved society. It's time for a National Disability Insurance Scheme."


In her speech last week to the Economic and Social Outlook Conference in Melbourne, Federal Minister Jenny Macklin focussed on the need for disability reform: "A National Disability Insurance Scheme would be a fundamental change to the way that people with disability receive support. We will need to seriously consider the [Productivity] Commission's final recommendations and the implications for current services and arrangements in close consultation with state and territory governments, service providers, employers and of course people with disabilities and their families and carers. And any change must be economically sustainable. As with all changes of this scale and impact, this work is complex. Reform is necessary."


The 'Every Australian Counts' Campaign is inspiring a wide range of activities: 416 organisations and individuals (so far), including NDS members, have registered to run DisabiliTEA events on 2 August. At least 12,000 people (including MPs) are expected to attend. This will help draw attention to the delivery of the Productivity Commission's final report on Disability Care and Support to the Federal Government. To register and get more information, go to http://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/disabilitea/

Last week NDS spoke on the NDIS at an international conference at the University of Sydney and this week will participate in a roundtable discussion on the NDIS at a University of NSW conference.