Labor launches task force to consult on regulating NDIS

More than one unregistered NDIS provider on average per week is banned from the scheme, as Labor moves to close a harmful “gap” in regulation with a new expert task force.

More than one unregistered NDIS provider on average per week is banned from the scheme for fraud, poor safety, sexual misconduct or other “suitability” failures, as Labor moves to close a harmful “gap” in regulation with a new expert task force.

There have been 32 banning orders issued to unregistered providers and workers cashing in on taxpayer-funded NDIS packages in the six months since August, including 19 cases in NSW, five in Victoria, three in South Australia and two in Queensland.

The federal government will this week unveil a new task force made up of legal, consumer, safety and disability experts to advise on regulating the NDIS to weed out unscrupulous providers and reduce the risk of farm to people with a disability without taking away their choice and control.

New figures reveal of the 19 unregistered providers banned in NSW in the past six months, most cases related to fraud, but in one case a woman was given a five-year ban due to sexual misconduct.

In South Australia one man working for an unregistered provider was banned for two years on “suitability” grounds, with misconduct including impersonation of a mental health worker and a “concerning” criminal history that included dishonesty charges, sexual assault, trespass, identity theft, and unregistered and unlicensed firearm charges.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has launched a new taskforce to advice on regulating providers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In Queensland there were two ban orders, including a woman who was found to be providing support while intoxicated, engaging in dishonest behaviour and neglect and banned from being involved with the NDIS for two years.

Among the five bans issued in Victoria, one related to a person who had criminal charges that included reckless conduct endangering life and drink driving.

In another Victorian case, a man was banned after providing “poor quality of supports and services”.

While in the Northern Territory a woman was permanently banned from being involved in the NDIS due to “suitability” failures, which included charges of gross indecency and common assault.

More than one unregistered NDIS provider a week is banned for misconduct, fraud or suitability concerns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

A scaled registration requirement to better protect Australians with a disability as well as prevent fraud are among the options being considered to address abuse within the NDIS.

For an individual this could mean as little as demonstrating possession of a current drivers license, while larger providers might be required to undertake more in depth regulatory checks.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said the new task force would be lead by lawyer and disability advocate Natalie Wade, former ACCC chair Allan Fels, former Northern Territory administrator Vicki O’Halloran and former ACTU assistant secretary Michael Borowick.

“Together with the disability community, this task force will give me advice to design a new regulatory model to close the gaps that currently exist in regulation of the NDIS market for people with disability,” he said.

Mr Shorten said the changes were not about “removing choice and control” from NDIS participants.

“It is about ensuring participants continue to receive quality supports that recognise their human rights and support their safety and quality of life,” he said.

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Originally published as Labor launches task force to consult on regulating NDIS