Julia Gillard Press Conference: Introducing a National Disability Insurance Scheme
Channel: Australian Labor Party
Date: 2011-08-10

The Gillard Labor Government today announced that it will start work immediately with states and territories on measures that will build the foundations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme, following the release of the Productivity Commission's final report into the matter.


The Government asked the Productivity Commission to examine reform of disability support services because we believe that the system we have today is not delivering the kind of care and support Australians expect for people with disability.


The main recommendations of the Productivity Commission are:

A National Disability Insurance Scheme should be created to provide all Australians with insurance for the costs of support if they or a family member acquire a disability.  The scheme will provide individually tailored care and support to around 410 000 people with significant disabilities.
A National Injury Insurance Scheme should be created to provide no fault insurance for anyone who suffers a catastrophic injury.

The Productivity Commission's report finds that it would take at least seven years to transform disability services.

The Australian Government supports the Productivity Commission's vision for a system that provides individuals with the support they need over the course of their lifetime, and wants reform of disability services that is financially sustainable.