Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is arguably one of the most significant programs in the history of the Australian government. It is with great celebration in my community in Geelong and in Colac that we have begun to roll out the NDIS.

In fact, I was in Colac on Friday and visited the new office of the Colac National Disability Insurance Scheme and I met with the National Disability Insurance Agency area coordinator, Schree Barry. It really is wonderful to see the investment that is happening in the Colac community and across the Greater Geelong region in my electorate of Corangamite. I am a passionate supporter of the NDIS and this government is a passionate supporter of the NDIS. We have supported the NDIS at every step of the way and we remain committed to rolling out the NDIS in full.

It really is fantastic to see that already the NDIA and the scheme that underpins the NDIA are helping some 2,700 people in the Barwon region in the trial that is being conducted in Barwon. In Colac alone there are about 340 people who have done their plans and are in the process of having these important disability services delivered, obviously, to people with a disability and their families.

This is making a profound difference. There are six people working in Colac and there are another five people to come. The Colac Herald did a terrific little article about the new office that is opening today, and that is a great investment. So there is great excitement in Colac about the investment that the federal government is making in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Of course, it was with great pride on 30 April that Prime Minister Tony Abbott, along with Premier Denis Napthine, officially opened the new national headquarters of the NDIA. The NDIA will generate about 450 direct jobs in total for Geelong by 2019-20. Already there have been some 125 jobs created and that number is expected to rise to 300. So not only is this a wonderful scheme for people with a disability, their families and their carers it is also wonderful for jobs in our region—it is so positive for jobs in our region.

Already we are seeing what a difference this is making. A number of weeks ago I visited Kids Plus Foundation in Geelong. This is a wonderful agency, giving help to young children and to babies, principally those with cystic fibrosis and other similar conditions. Up until recently they have had no government funding and now with parents coming along with their NDIS packages under the trial they are getting incredible help. So it is wonderful to see what a significant difference this is making in the Corangamite community and across the Greater Geelong region.

And let us not forget that from 1 July 2014, NDIS trial sites will be in place across all states and territories except Queensland. Queensland will join the NDIS in 2016. New NDIS trials in Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory will assist around 14,000 people with permanent and significant disability, and more than 35,000 people with disability will be assisted through the NDIS trials. Once fully rolled out, the NDIS will assist around 460,000 Australians with a permanent and significant disability, at a cost of $22 billion. So this is a wonderful initiative. I am so proud that we are funding this program and that we are getting on with the job of looking after people with a disability.

I ask the minister today to confirm the government's commitment to the NDIS over the forward estimates and confirm that this is a fully funded policy. Can the minister also confirm that the government has reversed the previous government's decision to apply the efficiency divided to NDIS support packages and the second development fund?

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