Disability

• Enough talk, make the NDIS real

  3 February, 2012

  Another piece of the puzzle fell into place yesterday. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott committed to the introduction of the NDIS as a priority for a coalition government.

  Creation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme is now the only issue in modern politics that currently has multi-partisan support. Every Australian leader at state and federal levels is in broad agreement with the NDIS, regardless of their political persuasion.

  It’s a rare moment in Australian political history, and it’s something that we can all be proud of.

  But there is still a long way to go.

  The NDIS is critical to hundreds of thousands of Australian men, women and children with disability and their families, carers and supporters.

  The NDIS cannot remain an aspiration. We need to make the NDIS real in 2012.

  As a first step, we want you to meet with your Federal MP as soon as you can – especially if they haven’t yet shown their support for the NDIS by taking an "I count" photo. Talk to your representative about why Australia urgently needs an NDIS. Ask for their help to make the NDIS real this year.

  Find out who your local member is and follow our how-to guide to set up a meeting.

  To make the NDIS real in 2012, we want to see:
  • the NDIA, the body that will run the NDIS, legislated;
  • the NDIS launch sites announced; and
  • the funding to make both of these things happen.
  We want all our politicians to recognise the broader community and economic benefits of the scheme as detailed by the Productivity Commission.

  You and I both know it is going to take a lot more work to get this job done.

  And until the Government and the Coalition come up with the goods to make the NDIS real – regardless of the broader budget environment – we will keep campaigning, keep fighting, every step of the way.

  Thank you for your support.

  Yours,

  John Della Bosca
  and the Every Australian Counts campaign team
  www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au