The Rebuttal

I am conflicted in writing this article. I am conflicted because in recent weeks I have had some positive dealings with the NDIA, either through attendance to support people at review meetings and even at appeals meetings. This reminded me that there are many great workers within the NDIA and other NDIS areas. Despite this, there is no doubt that NDIS participants and their families are being severely impacted by the changes being pushed through to reform the NDIS. I write this in support of them.

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane. The last time that I attended an NDIS protest was actually to campaign for it to be set up way back in 2012 or something. Disabled people and their associates campaigned strongly for the NDIS and won. It eventually became reality in 2013. I remember well when the NDIS finally became reality. There was not a dry eye in Parliament House, Canberra. Prime Minister Gillard and Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin embraced in the middle of Parliament. Those were heady days.

The original intent of the NDIS was to have disabled people taking part in our society as much as possible. It also recognised that there were many carers that were going above and beyond to support their disabled children. Sometimes the carers were elderly and still caring for their disabled children who were also elderly. The NDIS recognised that by also supporting carers it would allow them to return to work and make a significant economic contribution to Australia.

The Productivity Commission recognised the multiplier effect. It recognised that by supporting disabled people to participate both socially and economically, that there would be a return from this investment. People with disabilities could attend theatre, restaurants, go shopping, sporting events and so on. In doing so they would bring with them families and friends leading to increased business income. Employment would be created and so on. It has been said that for every $1 invested in the NDIS that $2.1 was made. No longer were disabled people seen as a burden.

Well, that was then but this is now. The headlines scream, ‘Coalition denies plans to slash NDIS, but says cost is ‘out of control’ and ‘NDIS to cost $100b, exceeding the Pension’  and ‘NDIS ‘unsustainable’ and ‘out of control’ and ‘NDIS cost to outstrip Medicare within two years, govt says‘

What ever happened to the stories and data that show that the NDIS is making a difference to the lives of people with a disability? Where are the headlines that highlight the economic benefits and jobs that have been created? There are few.

You can find articles about the NDIS economic benefit that are mostly written by disability advocates. I couldn’t find anything in the mainstream media. Instead it’s all negative – Cost too much, fraud, abuse; it never ends.

Meanwhile Disabled people look on as their hard earned NDIS gains are slowly ripped away from them. At the Protest speakers told of children who are being removed from the NDIS. They explained how they are being told to use State based supports that do not exist. They bemoaned the lack of clarity of the much vaunted Foundation Supports, which now will not be ready until the end of the year according to Minister Butler.

They told of plans that are being drastically cut causing immense stress and even fear for participants lives. They protested the changes in assessments and how this is taking away their much valued choice and control. This massive loss of choice, control and dignity is best illustrated by the placard below:

And who is listening to these people? These people that took it upon themselves to protest outside the Disability Services Consulting (DSC) NDIS conference. DSC themselves are a fine organisation that do a lot of good things. They employ people with disability and people with lived experience. But sadly their conference was out of reach of many at the grassroots level. An online Zoom attendance was $720. In person it was $1680. This for a two day conference. Throw in accommodation and travel costs and it is astronomical. One wag commented that to be able to attend they would have had to sell their car.

There were some great advocates with a disability who attended the conference. El Gibbs, Natalie Wade, Dougie Herd, Samantha Connor and George Taleporos are outstanding and elite advocates who were at the conference. But where were the grassroots? The people who are impacted everyday by the decisions being made to cut the NDIS costs. The people being kicked off the scheme. People who have lost supports as their funding has been cut. People who could ask the hard questions and tell their stories. Where were they?

Certainly not the people at the protest because the Melbourne Convention Centre security would not let them in. God knows, given that 45% of people with a disability live below the poverty line, they certainly could not afford to pay to attend.

And so the Government steamrolls forward with its NDIS reforms. All it seems at the moment is cuts to plans and very often, participants being told that they no longer qualify for the NDIS. There is a hyper focus on fraud instead of internal processes. What of the much vaunted Navigators and Foundation supports? Are people with a disability truly involved in the co-design of these new supports? Nobody knows. I suspect not even the NDIA!

Meanwhile people with a disability, their carers and their families are screaming. They are hurting and they are stressed. Some fear that cuts in support will put their health and lives at risk. Is the Government listening? Are service providers listening? Are people with a disability truly involved in the co design of the reforms beyond the elite advocates mentioned here?

Well given that people with a disability protesting could not even get through the doors of the huge and important DSC NDIS conference it doesn’t seem so. Who really is listening?