The federal government has mishandled the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, according to Susan Templeman, a claim strongly refuted by the government.
The Labor Member for Macquarie said the government was not doing a good enough job rolling out the scheme Labor created in 2013, though a government spokesperson said Ms Templeman was not correct.
The NDIS is a government initiative to support people with disabilities, by improving their quality of life.
The scheme was started in 2013 by the Labor government, shortly before Tony Abbott and the Coalition came to power in 2013.
Ms Templeman accused the Turnbull government of mishandling the rollout of the scheme.
“While the NDIS is improving the lives of thousands of people with disability, their carers and families in the local area, my office receives call every day from others who are having challenges in transitioning across to the new system,” Ms Templeman said via a prepared statement.
“Disability service providers have made it clear to me that they are concerned and frustrated by some of the problems with the rollout of the NDIS, and I know their clients are too.
“Local providers have told me they have gone for significant periods without being paid for services they have given to NDIS participants.”
A spokesperson for Senator Marise Payne, the Minister for Defence and Senator for Western Sydney, said it was simply not true that disability service providers had not been paid.
“After speaking with the responsible Minister’s office, as of Friday, October 21, every correctly submitted claim under the NDIS in the Macquarie electorate had been paid and there were no outstanding valid claims. Suggestions made otherwise by the Labor member is misleading and frightening for those who rely on the services and assistance provided under the NDIS,” the spokesperson said via a prepared statement.
Jenny Macklin, the shadow Minister for Social Services, who was in the Hawkesbury on Monday, echoed Ms Templeman.
