Government announces NDIS review to cut wait times

The laws and rules guiding the National Disability Insurance Scheme will go under the microscope, in an effort to reduce wait times for participants.

Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert

NDIS Minister Stuart Robert wants to cut waiting times for participants. Source: AAP

The government has launched a review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme which aims to reduce wait times for participants. 

NDIS Minister Stuart Robert has appointed former finance department secretary David Tune to review the scheme which has been plagued by complaints about lengthy waits for funding for services and equipment.

Mr Robert said timeframes in some areas were unacceptable, but isn't suggesting what would be an appropriate deadline to approve applications. 

He has previously said there should be a cap of 50 days set for children accessing support - less than half the average wait time of 127 days. 

The review will inform a new set of standards known as the Participant Service Guarantee to be introduced by mid-2020.

'We are listening, and will be consulting with people with disability and their families, the disability services sector, ministers and officials from Commonwealth and state governments and the National Disability Insurance Agency as part of this review," Mr Robert said in a statement on Monday.

Consultations will begin later this month with an online survey, discussion paper and face-to-face workshops across the country.

Mr Tune retired from the public service in 2014 and has since led reviews into MPs' parliamentary entitlements and the aged care system.

"Mr Tune has a great deal of experience in reviewing important policy and is a great choice to lead this next phase of making the NDIS even better,' Mr Robert said.

In March, the government injected an extra $850 million into the scheme to respond to pay for "emerging issues" in the NDIS which is set to support up to 500,000 people over the next five years.


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By Rosemary Bolger

Presented by Justin Sungil Park




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