The Australian Greens have welcomed the announcement of the First Peoples Disability Network Australia ten point plan for the implementation of the NDIS in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

"This ten point plan will help ensure that the NDIS supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders effectively. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders face many barriers to accessing adequate disability services." Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues said today.

With a decade of funding confirmed for the NDIS, the WA Government cannot continue to delay joining the scheme, the Australian Greens said today.

"I am pleased to see investments made in the NDIS over an extended period of time, and I hope this will provide the support and stability the NDIS needs," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on disabilities said today.

"It is very disappointing to see the budget papers outline the roll out for the NDIS for every state and territory except WA.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has said that WA Premier Colin Barnett should stop playing state rights politics with the NDIS.

"WA is now the only state or territory not involved in the NDIS, and as a West Australian, I'm ashamed by that," Senator Siewert said today.

"I will be the first to say that WA has done better with services for people with disability than other states have done in the past, but this is no reason not to join this transformative, national approach.

The Australian Greens welcome the Prime Minister's announcement that NDIS legislation will come before parliament in the next session and look forward to beginning negotiations as soon as possible," Australian Greens disabilities spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

"The government has always had the numbers for this legislation but has spent the past few days playing political games. They should now get on with negotiating an outcome," Senator Siewert said.

"The Greens are open to discussing all measures to fund this scheme.

The Australian Greens said today that they remain strongly supportive of the NDIS but are calling on the Government to clarify that they won't be reassessing people on Disability Support Pension to claw money back for NDIS.

"I am seeking clarification from Minister Macklin following reports today suggesting that people on DSP might face reassessments," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on disability services said today.

The Australian Greens said today that further amendments would be needed to the NDIS legislation following the tabling of a Senate Inquiry report.

“The Australian Greens have supported the majority report of the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry, but have also provided important additional comments and recommendations,” disabilities spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said this afternoon.

“The Government should adopt the recommendations made in the committee’s majority report, along with the additional  recommendations made by the Greens.

The Australian Greens have spoken about the importance of a NDIS, as hearings for the scheme's legislation take place in Hobart today.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme legislation will provide essential support and assistance for Australians living with a disability and give individuals greater capacity to have control over the choice of care and support they receive. It is important, transformative reform.

The Australian Greens said today they will seek improved mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability around the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
 
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disabilities said today she would pursue a new mechanism through Senate Estimates to ensure the NDIS rollout was properly examined.
 

Community Affairs Legislation Committee 

Estimates hearings, 28 May 2012

Full transcript available here

CHAIR: Senator Rhiannon.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has today called for the Government and opposition to provide certainty to people living with a disability and their families.

“The Greens support the cross-party commitment to implementing an NDIS, particularly the Government’s efforts to do so earlier than the Productivity Commission recommended,” Senator Siewert, Greens disabilities spokesperson said today.