WHATDIDTHE HONMARK BUTLER JUSTANNOUNCE FORNDIS?
MR RIVER NIGHT
N.arional Di!U1billiy Sector Acll/Uc.olt:, rather, Core,, /1
P�r.-.011 L;ving with Di,.obilily
TocontactMrNightforfurthercomment-media@dacexpo.com.au
Iwatchedandkeptnotesduringthisweek'sspeechbyMarkButlerMP.HereismysummaryofwhatIunderstood wasannouncedanddiscussedifyouwouldlikeaversionthroughmyeyesandearsasItriedtotranslatethe announcementstorealworldspeak.Thisofcourseisheardthroughmyownpersonalfilterasapersonwithdisability, professional,carer,fatherandpolicylover.
HonMarkButler–NationalPressClubAddressontheNDIS
OpeningContext
TheMinisterusedtheNationalPressClubaddressthisweektooutlinetheAustralianGovernment’sapproachtothe NationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme,alongsidebroadercommentaryonagedcareandsocialpolicy.
Whiletheneedforsustainabilitywasemphasised,theaddressraisedseriousquestionsabouttransparency,consultation, andthefuturedirectionoftheNDIS.
KeyObservations
1.StrongFocusonCostControlandFraud
•TheMinisterrepeatedlyhighlightedfraud,rorting,andprovidermisconductaskeydriversofNDIScostpressures whichisnotinfactthesourceofthebillionsofdollarsofoverspendandcostincrease
•However,therewaslimitedacknowledgmentofwell-documentedsystemicanddesignfailureswithintheNDIS planningandadministrationprocesses,whichiswidelyevidencedbroadlytobethemaincontributingfactortothe budgetincrease
2.SilenceontheDisabilityRoyalCommission
•TherewasnoreferencetotheDisabilityRoyalCommissionorhowitsfindingsareinformingcurrentreforms.
•ThisomissionisconcerninggiventheCommission’sclearrecommendationsonsafeguards,participantrights,and systemaccountabilitywhichwouldaddresscausesforbudgetincreases
3.IncreasedReassessmentsandReducedRights
•TheMinisterconfirmedplanstorestricttherighttounscheduledreassessments,witharoundoneinfive participantplansreviewedannually.
•Atthesametime,proposalstolimitunscheduledreassessmentsriskrestrictingparticipants’abilityandrightto challengeincorrectorinadequateplans,withthepoorandoftengrosslylackingplanningduediligencesitedasa leadingcauseofbudgetissueswiththeagency’sownCEOpreviouslystatingtheirplannersarenotreadingreports anddocumentssubmitted.
•TheMinistersaidthatunscheduledreassessmentsbenefitplanmanagersnotparticipantsbecauseitoftenresulted inanincreaseinfundingfortheparticipant.ThiswasanalarmingstatementmadebytheMinisteranditwas unclearifhewassuggestingplanmanagersasawholewerebehavingpoorlywhodonottypicallysubmitthese requestsforreassessment.Thiswaseitheramis-wordedstatementordemonstratedalackofbasicknowledgeof process.
4.CommunityParticipationFundingtoBeCapped
•TheMinisterflaggedconstraintsonsocialandcommunityparticipationfunding,potentiallymovingawayfrom needsbasedplanningtowardcappedortarget-basedmodelsmentionedthatanaverageof$30000perparticipant wouldbecapped,mentionedtargetsof$16000inpreviousyearswouldbelookedat
•Thisraisesconcernsaboutreducedchoice,control,andsocialinclusionforpeoplewithdisability.
•Whileacapandstandardisationoffundingwasannouncedtherewasthenfurthercommentthatfundingand supportwouldbebasedonfunctionalassessmentandneedversusstandardisedlistsanddiagnosis.Children,
Assessments,and“ThrivingKids"
5.NewAssessmentToolsReplacingClinicalEvidence
•Theproposed“ThrivingKids”initiativeincludesthedevelopmentofastandardisedfunctionalassessmenttool.
•Thereiscurrentlynoclarityonwhyestablished,clinicallyvalidatedfunctionalassessmentsareconsidered insufficient,orhowthenewtoolwillbeevidence-based.
6.LackofDetailandLimitedTransparency
•Keyinitiatives,including“ThrivingKids”and“FoundationalSupports,”werediscussedinprinciplebutwithout operationaldetail.
•Familiesandserviceprovidersremainunclearabouteligibility,accesspathways,andimplementationtimelines.
7.NoCommitmenttoRestoreSafeguards
TheaddressdidnotincludeplanstorestoresafeguardsremovedsincetheintroductionoftheNDIS,suchas:
oCasemanagement
oFace-to-faceplanning
oStrongerchecksandbalancesindecision-making
oCommunityvisitorsandstatutorycheckstoatleastpre-NDISlevels
oRemovalofsafeguardsthatcorresponddirectlywithincreasefraudandbudgetblowouts
8.EssentialSupportsNarrowlyDefined
•TheMinisterdescribedarenewedfocuson“essentialsupports,”framedaroundbasiccareneeds.
•ThissignalsapotentialshiftawayfromtheNDIS’soriginalgoalsofindependence,participation,and communityinclusion.
Choice,Control,andConsultation
9.TensionBetweenRhetoricandReality
•Whileaffirmingsupportfor“nothingaboutuswithoutus,”thereformsoutlinedwerenotpresentedascodesignedwithpeoplewithdisability.
•Measureslimitingflexibility,reassessmentrights,andfundingdiscretionappearinconsistentwiththepromiseof choiceandcontrol.
10.State-LevelConcerns
•Queenslandhasnotprovidedthefinalsignoffandagreedtoparticipateinthe“ThrivingKids”initiative.
•Thishighlightsongoingintergovernmentalandimplementationchallenges.
ClosingMessagefromRiverJNight
•SustainabilityoftheNDISisimportant,butitmustnotcomeatthecostoffairness,dignity,andparticipant rights.
•Anyreformmustaddresssystemdesign,planningquality,andaccountability—notplaceresponsibility primarilyonparticipantsorfrontlineproviders.
•Peoplewithdisabilityexpectgenuineconsultation,transparency,andevidence-basedpolicy,notreforms developedwithoutthem.
•MrButlerconfirmedeveryparticipantwouldbereassessed.Previousreassessmentofchildrenwasdonewithout noticewithsomeparentsreportingtheyweregiven30daystoproduceevidenceandassessmentreportswhenthe publichealthsystemtakesfarlongerthan30daystosecureappointmentsorgetreportsproduced,creatingchaos andwidespreadpanic.
•Suggestingthecostblowouthasanythingtodowithtoomanyunregisteredprovidersislikeahusbandtryingto convincetheirwifethereasontheyspendtoomuchonfishinggearisbecausetherearetoomanygoodfishing shops.Itwillneverpassthepubtest.ThegovernmentisriskinginsultingtheintelligenceofallAustralian’sand losingconfidence