Minister pledges ‘no cuts’ to NDIS funds | St George & Sutherland Shire Chief

Disability Minister Linda Reynolds has issued a new warning on the sustainability of the national disability insurance system.

Ahead of a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday, she proposed an upper limit to the program instead of cuts.

“We have some serious structural problems in the national disability system after eight years of operation,” said Senator Reynolds.

Citing data showing an increasing trend in cost per person and a decrease in the function of participants, she said the program was either not working as intended or had serious flaws.

Senator Reynolds insisted the Morrison administration not consider any cuts.

“We’re not going to cut the NDIS budget, it’s about making it sustainable.”

Although the minister is giving up plans for new independent assessments, critics fear that new laws will be introduced before the next elections that will bring “robo-planning” back to the table.

Senator Reynolds, who will meet with state and territory counterparts next week, said she was working on bigger issues before signing new funding deals with each jurisdiction.

The minister confirmed that the federal government was working on new laws on service guarantees and anti-fraud measures.

However, she said the legislation would not provide for any form of independent assessment.

States and territories agree that taxpayers have a serious obligation to make some form of assessment.

“What that looks like cannot be said yet.”

Labor previously accused the Morrison administration of looking for ways to cut support and remove people from the system.

Australian Associated Press