People with Disability Australia (PWDA) the national cross-disability rights and representative organisation is deeply concerned that state and territory governments are delaying the rollout of foundational supports, leaving millions of people with disability to continue without access to essential services—at a time when NDIS reforms are restricting access and reducing supports available under the Scheme.
PWDA President Trinity Ford said this delay amounts to an abandonment of responsibility by state and territory governments, who walked away from disability services when the NDIS was introduced and are now refusing to step up when people need support the most.
"People with disability are being squeezed from both sides. The NDIS is tightening access, reducing the supports available to many participants, and now states and territories are refusing to deliver the services they were always responsible for," Ms Ford said.
"This is a crisis of their own making. States and territories cut disability services, handed everything to the NDIS, and now they are kicking the can down the road instead of fixing the gaps they created. People with disability cannot afford to wait while governments play politics with their lives."
PWDA Deputy CEO Megan Spindler-Smith said foundational supports must be properly funded and co-designed to ensure people with disability can access services they need—whether they are able to access the NDIS or not.
"The NDIS was never meant to be the only support system for people with disability, but because state and territory governments stopped maintaining their responsibilities, it remains the only option for far too many people with disability. Now, with the Scheme restricting access and supports, rolling out foundational supports is more important than ever," Mx Spindler-Smith said.
"If states and territories are no longer willing to co-fund these services, they are continuing to leave people without essential supports. This delay will push more people into crisis, place additional strain on families and carers, and force more people to rely on already overstretched health and emergency services."
Foundational supports are intended to provide critical services like community access programs, disability peer support, early intervention, and mental health support—many of which are no longer accessible through the NDIS due to the tightening of eligibility and planning decisions.
PWDA is calling on state and territory governments to stop delaying and commit to properly funding foundational supports now.
PWDA is also urging all federal election candidates to publicly commit to a national system of properly funded, co-designed foundational supports and hold states and territories accountable for their failure to act.
"We will be watching closely in the lead-up to the federal election. People with disability and their families deserve to know which leaders are standing up for them—and which ones are failing them," Mx Spindler-Smith said.
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ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY AUSTRALIA
People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWDA) is a national disability rights and advocacy, non-profit, non-government organisation. We have a cross-disability focus, representing the interests of people with all kinds of disability and our membership is made up of people with disability and organisations mainly constituted by people with disability.
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