Liberal spokesperson on disability Senator Mitch Fifield has called the bluff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the desperately needed National Disability Insurance Scheme

Fifield’s comments echo the thoughts of over 80% of the respondents to the Disability Speaks online survey on NDIS.

In an address to CEO’s of major disability organisations in Canberra Fifield has indicated that Bi Partisan support by the Liberals was no longer a given.

In strong language the Liberal spokesperson has belittled the financial commitment of the ALP to additional disability support claiming

· The ALP has provided no guaranteed timeline for NDIS

· The recently announced NDIs agency is questionable

· There is no new money for NDIS

In what will be seen by the disability sector as a devastating blow to NDIS, anger is sure to erupt particularly given the failure of Fifield to suggest an alternative to NDIS given his personal admissions of the depth of understanding of the disability crisis.

Disability Speaks knows if Gillard wants to regain the faith of the disability sector she has only one option available to her.

That is to put her money where her mouth is!

This needs to be in the form of short term crisis funding as recommended by the Productivity Commission and a long term NDIS funding plan attached to a commencement date.

NDIS now officially has the wobbles. Only Gillard and the ALP can save it!

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/liberals-rear-up-over-disability-scheme/2383876.aspx

David Holst
Chair - Disability Speaks Steering Committee & Intellectual Disability Association of S.A (IDASA)