The impact of your advocacy was clear in Parliament in July. Politicians raised concerns about NDIS pricing changes and how they are affecting services.
What was said:
- Senator Jordon Steele-John highlighted the impact of the NDIS pricing on participants and providers. He specifically raised concern about reduced access to speech pathology services.
- Zali Steggall (Member for Warringah) also raised her concerns about the viability of businesses due to the NDIS pricing changes, using speech pathology as an example. She noted highlighted that many businesses were small and women-led , and called for greater engagement with small providers.
- Michael McCormack (Member for Riverina) warned that travel cuts prevent NDIS participants from accessing the speech pathology care that they need.
- Senator Tammy Tyrrell highlighted that the travel cuts have put therapy providers in a tough position to have to withdraw care. She noted that this will impact participants who have made significant progress in speech therapy. She also spoke about the denial of iPads as communication devices and proposed that therapists should be able to prescribe lower cost equipment.
- Kate Chaney (Member for Curtin) discussed the impact of the pricing arrangements meaning a reduction of NDIS services in WA, highlighting that many of these allied health services are provided by women and highly valued by participants.
- Henry Pike (Member for Bowman) said NDIS pricing changes will reduce participant’s access to care, and affect allied health business viability.
- Pat Conaghan (Member for Cowper) discussed the negative impact on regional providers and participants and called for appropriate consultation with the sector.
- Dr Helen Haines (Member for Indi) also discussed her concerns that travel cuts will reduce access to care for participants in rural areas and called for a pause for further consultation.
- Rick Wilson (Member for O’Connor) highlighted that the travel cuts will negatively impact upon participants outside of cities, who already had limited access to care.
- Dr Sophie Scamps (Member for Mackellar) spoke to the lack of consultation with the allied health sector. She said travel restrictions limit therapy services. She also raised concerns regarding the delayed roll out of Foundational Supports and called for the government to work constructively with the allied health sector towards true co-design.
Multiple Senators called for greater transparency regarding the NDIS. An Order for the Production of Documents relating to government briefings on NDIS financial sustainability was discussed on 28 July. Stay tuned for updates.
These developments reflect the growing impact of members advocacy. We’ll continue to raise the concerns you share with us, and we encourage you to continue contacting your local MP about how the changes are affecting your work and access to care for participants. Members can access further information about our current advocacy regarding NDIS and disability, including Foundational Supports on the
Disability and NDIS page. Further NDIS information for members is available
here.
Members can read our submission regarding the review of the NDIS Supports Lists here.