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Plans to subject all NDIS participants to independent assessments have been put on hold amid fierce opposition and political pressure. Ahead of a meeting with her state and territory counterparts on Thursday, new NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed she won’t make a decision on the introduction of the new regime until the results of an ongoing trial had been assessed. Independent assessments of prospective participants were due to start in the middle of 2021, but Senator Reynolds’ statement means that timeframe would now be abandoned. Senator Reynolds faced immediate calls to dump the planned changes after replacing Stuart Robert in the role late last month, with disability groups, Labor and the Greens all staunchly opposed. Almost all state and territory ministers – including the ACT’s Emma Davidson – have expressed concerns about the proposed model and a lack of consultation from the Morrison government about the overhaul. Under the proposed system, government-appointed health professionals would conduct assessments on participants to determine their eligibility for the scheme. At present, prospective participants choose their own doctors and health professionals. READ MORE: Mr Robert had argued the new system would be fairer and result in more consistent assessments. But opponents argued the new system would undermine the principle that participants had “choice and control” over the support the received. Disability groups had also feared that subjecting participants to assessments from people they didn’t know would cause trauma and anxiety. In an interview with The Australian ahead of Thursday’s ministers meeting, Senator Reynolds said that once the trial was concluded, the government would look at the “best process (for assessment of eligibility), one that is fair and equitable and has appeal mechanisms”. More to come Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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Plans to subject all NDIS participants to independent assessments have been put on hold amid fierce opposition and political pressure.
Ahead of a meeting with her state and territory counterparts on Thursday, new NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed she won’t make a decision on the introduction of the new regime until the results of an ongoing trial had been assessed.
Under the proposed system, government-appointed health professionals would conduct assessments on participants to determine their eligibility for the scheme.
At present, prospective participants choose their own doctors and health professionals.
Mr Robert had argued the new system would be fairer and result in more consistent assessments.
But opponents argued the new system would undermine the principle that participants had “choice and control” over the support the received.
Disability groups had also feared that subjecting participants to assessments from people they didn’t know would cause trauma and anxiety.
In an interview with The Australian ahead of Thursday’s ministers meeting, Senator Reynolds said that once the trial was concluded, the government would look at the “best process (for assessment of eligibility), one that is fair and equitable and has appeal mechanisms”.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
