MEDIA RELEASE: QDN welcomes Disability Reform Council measures to improve provision of transport under the NDIS
QDN is pleased to inform members that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Disability Reform Council (DRC), in their latest communique, announced they have endorsed an approach to improve provision of transport support under the NDIS.
On transport the communique states:
The Council endorsed an approach to improve the provision of transport supports under the NDIS. This includes interim measures to increase transport funding for NDIS participants who are significant users of taxi subsidy schemes, and the full reimbursement of states and territories for the continuation of their schemes for NDIS participants until longer-term transport support policy and funding is resolved.
QDN welcomes this interim measure which, according to a media release by Minister for the NDIS, Hon Stuart Robert, will extend reimbursement to states and territories for their taxi subsidy schemes for NDIS participants from 1 January 2020 until 31 October 2021. Mr Robert said “as the NDIS moves from the transition phase to full maturity, the Council acknowledged the need for setting the NDIS up for long term success”.
Nigel Webb, QDN Board of Directors Chairperson said “transport was one of the seven key election platform priority areas QDN announced prior to the Federal Election. This measure is a big win for many people with disability around Australia”.
QDN members were integral in identifying and raising issues around transport for people with disability in Queensland, when members in Townsville reported they were losing their TSS cards once becoming NDIS participants.
Mr Webb went on to say “QDN led the charge in bringing this issue to the attention of state government and NDIS”. To ensure people with disability were not disadvantaged in their transport options, the Queensland government extended the TSS until June 2020.
Although the measures outlined in the DRC communique are interim, they will be a welcome measure to all NDIS participants who are high taxi subsidy users. QDN is aware the Commonwealth has already agreed to extending South Australia’s subsidy scheme until 31 October, 2021.
“QDN welcomes further long-term measures to improve access to transport schemes and programs which provide certainty for people with disability to get about in their communities. We will continue to work with governments to improve transport options and ensure the voice of people with disability is heard” said Paige Armstrong, QDN CEO today.
Read the full Disability Reform Council communique here: https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/10_2019/communique-drc-9-october_2019.pdf
Read Hon Stuart Robert MP media release here:
https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/5196
For more information, contact Paige Armstrong, QDN Chief Executive Officer, 0408 720 099 or ceo@qdn.org.au