PWDA is working to determine if the alleged claims occurred and whether this is part of a broader pattern that our community should be concerned about.
If the NDIA has acted to remove supports as retaliation for criticism, as alleged by The Saturday Paper, this represents a serious breach of trust in the NDIS system and a deeply unethical use of power.
“A key component of our roles as advocates is the ability to speak up about experiences, share knowledge and understanding of the system, without fear of losing essential supports,” said Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith.
PWDA President Trinity Ford shared “This claim, if shown to be true, would demonstrate a gross misuse of power and raise serious concerns about how decisions are being made within the NDIA."
PWDA is seeking to understand if there has been a breach of Agency policy and standard procedure. “We urgently need transparency. We need to understand whether procedural fairness was breached. Participants deserve to know whether this has happened and, if it has, whether it was a one-off or part of a broader pattern.” said Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith
PWDA will continue to advocate for the rights of people with disability and for a NDIS that is fair, participant-led and free from political interference.
ENDS
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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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