WA and federal govt close to NDIS deal

Final negotiations are about to start between the federal and West Australian governments for an agreement allowing the state to run the NDIS locally.

The federal government is finally on the brink of striking a deal with Western Australia to let the state run the National Disability Insurance Scheme locally.

Federal social services minister Christian Porter says the Commonwealth is open to a nationally consistent but locally-administered model and agreed with the WA government on Friday to commence final negotiations.

"While it remains the Commonwealth's strong preference for WA to join the NDIS on a similar basis to other states and territories, I acknowledge WA's firm commitment to a WA-delivered model that builds on WA's existing disability service system," Mr Porter said.

The aim is to start the NDIS transition in WA on July 1, a year later than elsewhere.