NDIS relief touted

Inquiry recommends cuts to supports wait times

TASMANIANS with a disability would have their wait times for NDIS supports slashed to 10 weeks or less under new deadlines recommended by an independent inquiry.

A major review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme has called for the new 10-week timeframes to be introduced from July 1 for people to get their first plan.

It would then be cut to eight weeks from July next year.

The review also called for new deadlines for plan reviews, implementation meetings and plan amendments to be part of a new NDIS Participant Service Guarantee. The review by former federal Finance Department boss David Tune also called for new NDIS participants to be given 90 days, not just

28, to provide information for their application for access.

The five-month review, made public yesterday, made 29 recommendations.

It comes after The Mercury last week reported more than 1200 Australians had died while still waiting for NDIS supports in three years, including 21 Tasmanians.

The review also called for more federal funding to help people with a disability “navigate” the complex NDIS, new powers to amend plans once they were approved, and for participants to be able to see a full draft plan before they were signed off.

Mr Tune’s review highlighted the “frustration and anxiety” many people felt about waiting for NDIS decisions.

Federal NDIS Minister Stuart Robert said the government would “update and clarify” NDIS laws based on the findings, and would officially respond in coming weeks. The government has already announced 50-day timeframes for children under age seven.

Disability advocacy group Every Australian Counts’ spokeswoman Kirsten Deane said the review found “nothing new or surprising” but made “a raft of sensible and practical recommendations”.

People with Disability Australia policy director Romola Hollywood welcomed calls for timeframes but urged the government to add more staff to the National Disability Insurance Agency, remove the public service staffing cap, and boost training.