Victoria has reached a landmark agreement with Canberra to permanently fund the national disability insurance scheme, quashing any doubts that it could be delayed by the cash-strapped Abbott government in an effort to repair the budget.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews met NSW Premier Mike Baird in Sydney on Friday, and with both states close to signing a historic deal with Canberra, the disability support scheme can move from a trial phase to full coverage.
Mr Andrews, Mr Baird and Prime Minister Tony Abbott are expected to announce the funding agreement later this month.
The breakthrough follows reports of a push from within federal cabinet's expenditure review committee to slow the scheme's rollout in order to curb the cost.
Budget papers show the scheme is expected to cost $37 billion over four years. The federal government has previously agreed to cover more than half of that, or $18.9 billion, leaving the remainder to the states.
Victorian Disability Minister Martin Foley said people with disability and their families and carers down had fought hard for the NDIS and would not be let them down by the state government.
"We'll continue to work closely with unions, stakeholders, the disability workforce and people with disability to deliver the NDIS for Victoria," Mr Foley said.
The comments came after the scheme's board members were shocked to find the federal government had placed an advertisement in the Australian Financial Review seeking new board members with "substantial board experience either in a large listed company or a significant government business enterprise".
The experience requirements could make it difficult for the current board members – including chairman Bruce Bonyhady – to reapply for their jobs.
On Friday, Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield, said the current board members were "very welcome" to express interest in reapplying for their positions.
"It's important I recognise the need for continuity, so the new board will be a mix of new board members and current board members," he said.
Mr Fifield said he was conducting negotiations with each state and territory to establish bilateral agreements for plans to roll out the NDIS beyond the current trial sites.
He said the "target date" to complete negotiations in August was not a deadline. "These are complex and detailed negotiations. It's important that we get them right. They're going extremely well," he said.
The NDIS, which is headquartered in Geelong, has been trialled in the Barwon region of Victoria since July 2013. The full scheme will be rolled out across Victoria from 1 July 2016, providing relief for the thousands of Victorians on waiting lists for support.
- with Sarah Whyte
