NDIS- Latest News:  September 2013

Coalition Government vows to support NDIS

       New Prime Minister Tony Abbott, has vowed to ensure the NDIS is rolled out on time.

       He claims that the Labor Government's decision to call the NDIS Disability Care Austraia                was not well received by the sector. He has announced that he will return the scheme to          its original title of NDIS as soon as possible. 

Victoria signs up to Gillard Government Plan for DisabilityCare Australia-  

 4 May 2013

The Gillard Government and Victorian Coalition Government have reached a historic agreement today that will allow for the full roll out of DisabilityCare Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, in Victoria by July 2019.

The agreement will provide more than 100,000 Victorian residents with significant or profound disability choice and control over the care and support they receive. This will provide coverage in the event of disability to around one quarter of the Australian population.

DisabilityCare Australia will also give all Victorians the peace of mind that if they have or acquire a disability or have a child with disability that leaves them needing daily care and support, that they will get the support they need when they need it.

Under the agreement reached today:

1. 1. By 2019-20, the Victorian Government will provide an estimated $2.5 billion to cover all people in Victoria. This contribution was determined using the benchmark set by New South Wales in the agreement reached with the Commonwealth in DecemberThis will contribute to the cost of care and support for people with disability.
   2. By 2019-20, the Commonwealth Government will contribute around $2.billion to the scheme for Victorians. This will be around 51 per cent of scheme costs. In addition, having reached agreement to broader changes in the roles and responsibilities of both governments for people aged 65 and over, the Commonwealth will cover the full cost of people who turn 65 and choose to remain in the scheme.
   3. The full scheme costs will be reviewed by the Productivity Commission in 2018-19 to inform COAG agreement on final scheme funding arrangements.

Following the announcement this week by the Prime Minister, the Commonwealth Government has confirmed that, from 2019-20, an amount of $244 million will be allocated to Victoria from the increase in the Medicare Levy, to assist with the cost of the scheme in Victoria.

Today’s agreement builds on the agreement to launch in Barwon region of Victoria from 1 July 2013. Other eligible Victorian residents will start entering the scheme in July 2016.

We will progressively roll out DisabilityCare Australia in Victoria so that by July 2019, all eligible residents will be covered.

The NDIS is the reform of a generation and has the potential to transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable Victorians – people with a disability, their families and carers. It will build on Victoria’s reform journey in individualising support for people with disability.

The Gillard Government will continue to work closely with remaining state and territory governments to reach agreement on the national roll out of DisabilityCare Australia, so that all Australians can rest assured that if they have, or acquire, a disability they will have their needs met in a way that supports them to live with choice and dignity.

Press Release by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Premier Of Victoria, Federal Minister For Disability Reform, Victorian Minister For Disability Services And Reform 4 May 2013 

NDIS to be part funded with a 0.5% increase in the Medicare Levi - 3 May 2013 -                                                                                                                                                      Yesterday Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott made good on their promises to support the National Disability Insurance Scheme, through a 0.5% rise in the Medicare levy.

They can't walk away from their promises. Not now, not ever. Our leaders pledged to have legislation for funding introduced - and passed - before the September Federal election.Your efforts over more than two years have resulted in certainty for people with disability, their families and carers. Thank you.

But there was even more this week. On Wednesday Premier Campbell Newman committed Queensland to full implementation of the NDIS and yesterday Premier Lara Giddings brought Tasmania on board as well. They joined New South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.Four states and one territory have now joined the Federal government in support of the NDIS. So what happens now?From here on in, we will watch closely to make sure the new levy is passed into law and we will campaign right up until the Federal election to ensure every candidate has signed up to support the NDIS. But right now, there is one simple thing you can do.

We've launched this video featuring champion athlete Kurt Fearnley's blockbuster Australia Day speech. Nearly 9,000 people have already watched the video in just three days!Help us reach 30,000 views by the May 14 Federal Budget. If you haven’t already, take a look and share it with your friends and family.It's been a great week, one of so many in this long fight for the NDIS. Thank you always for your support - none of this happens without you.

John Della Bosca  And the Every Australian Counts campaign team
www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au

Rally around Australia hailed a big success

15,000 Australians around the country have sent a message, loud and clear. It’s time to Make the NDIS Real.

Today Canberra responded. Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressed the Sydney rally and announced the National Disability Insurance Scheme would be launched in four sites across the country next year, supporting more than 10,000 Australians with a disability at launch in 2014 with another 20,000 people to recieve a service in 2013.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott joined passionate campaign supporters in Perth and told the rally “everyone should get a fair go and that’s what the National Disability Insurance Scheme is about”.

We have had some great news today – but we can’t stop yet. We can’t stop until the NDIS is introduced for everyone, for good.

Your voice has been heard in Canberra – now we need your voice to be heard in every city, in every town, in every community across Australia.

We need your help to make this happen. Whatever you can do to get the word out about the NDIS - hand out postcards or sign up supporters.

We have developed new postcards and sign up sheets to get you started. You can download them from the everyaustralian counts website.

The Federal government is due to hand down its annual budget on May 8, so this is our big chance to place pressure on our decision makers and make sure they Make it Real.

Your support is more important than ever.

Thank you so much to everyone who came along today, you did an amazing thing!

Thank you for your ongoing support,

The Every Australian Counts Campaign Team
www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au

...............................................................................................................................................
A call for all 'Every Australian Counts' and 'NDIS' supporter to attend a National Rally at 12noon 30 April  in your capital city. Victorian's will rally at Federation Square.

The campaign team are saying "Enough is Enough" and we agree!

The Gillard Government has still not put a single dollar into relieving the critical shortage of services for people with disabilities and their families who are in real stress today. This despite the Productivity Commission's recommendation to ensure urgent funding was provided up-front whilst the NDIS is being formed.  The opposition parties are not doing enough to make this urgent funding available Now! 

There has been a lot of talk about the National Disability Insurance Scheme over the last month. Its time to act!

It’s great to see the NDIS getting the attention it deserves. That’s due to all your hard work.But talk is not enough. We also need real commitments and real action. And we are going to have to fight to get them.

That’s why on April 30 we are hosting the biggest rally of people with disabilities this country has ever seen. We need you to be there. We want to get 10,000 people to come to rally events in six capital cities around the country.

You can help by becoming a Rally Builder today – we will send you a pack to help you spread the word.

Every Australian Counts’s Kirsten Deane explains in a video on the www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au   why you, your family, your friends, your neighbours and work colleagues need to come along and make the NDIS real.

Talk does not buy equipment, fund therapy or find safe and appropriate housing. So we are taking to the streets because we want action.

Come to this exciting national event so we can send the strongest message yet to Canberra that we will not stop until the NDIS becomes a reality. We are so close – but we can’t give up now. We must keep pushing. And together we will Make it Real.

The Every Australian Counts campaign team are at www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au 

P.S. Will you become a rally builder?We need rally builders in every state to make sure everyone hears about this exciting event and has the chance to participate. To find out how easy it is to be a rally builder visit the campaign website and click the 'Find Out More link'.