'No support': Quadriplegic calls for NDIS shake up

A high-level quadriplegic who spends each night alone in fear for his life has called for legislative change to allow people aged over 65 access to the NDIS.

Advocate Peter Yeo has filed a discrimination claim with QCAT against federal government legislation that precludes people over 65 with disabilities from gaining access to NDIS. Picture: Kari Bourne

A HIGH-LEVEL quadriplegic who spends each night alone in fear for his life has called for legislative change to allow people aged over 65 access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Peter Yeo, who was badly injured when he slipped down a flight of stairs in his then Sunshine Beach home while rushing to answer the phone, has filed what he believed to be Australia's largest anti-discrimination case with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The former Port Adelaide, Sturt and Melbourne AFL player, who went on to found VYI's sunglasses and direct Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising said the matter was lodged 18 months ago and was now in conciliation.

"All I want is for all people with disabilities to be able to access to NDIS," the 72-year-old said.

He remained hopeful the Coalition and Labor could reach bipartisan agreement to make the necessary legislative change to the scheme and avoid its discriminatory affect being tested through the courts.

"People can pay taxes all their lives and if something goes wrong - they fall off a ladder and break their neck at 66 - they get no support."

Mr Yeo said aged services support met only about a third of the real need to deliver proper care.

"The aged care provisions are completely out of whack with what is required," he said.

"I live alone in Brisbane with only limited visits from carers. When you are a high-level quad, as I am, NDIS would give 24/7 care which I should have. It's very dangerous.

"The most important thing lacking by many people with a disability is funding for sleepovers, which should have been remedied for high-level quadriplegics a long time ago when they first had their accident.

Questions put to Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher have gone unanswered.

Dr Chris Davis, the former director of geriatics medicine at The Prince Charles Hospital, said people with disability shouldn't be discriminated against because of age.

"The needs of the person should drive the care," he said. "In an ideal world there should be no differentiation about whether you get access to support."

The former Queensland assistant Minister for Health said the real problem was that the "NDIS is a con job at the moment" with service providers having "zero" enthusiasm for taking on new clients.

He said under funding meant providers were making a loss, adding the current federal Treasurer was relying on under provision of funding to NDIS to prop up his budget and "spruik his economic credentials".

He said it was less expensive and delivered better outcomes for people to access care in their homes rather than extremely expensive hospitals.