Allan government minister calls out ‘underhanded’ feds over NDIS

The Allan and Albanese governments are on a collision course over the NDIS, as the state accuses its federal counterparts of keeping Victoria in the dark.

Lizzie Blandthorn says Victoria is being kept in the dark. Picture: Sarah Matray

The Allan government has sensationally accused the federal government of being “underhanded” in its plans to overhaul the NDIS.

The Albanese government is looking at ways to rein in the cost of running the NDIS including by changing the eligibility criteria to join the scheme.

Changes are set to include tightening access to the NDIS for autism clients.

To change the way the NDIS works, all of the states and territories must agree to new rules that will apply.

Victorian Minister for Disability, Lizzie Blandthorn, on Wednesday accused her federal counterparts of keeping Victoria in the dark.

“I’m very concerned to be honest about where we find ourselves with the Commonwealth in relation to the NDIS,” she said.

Federal NDIS Minister Bill Shorten during for Question Time. Picture: Martin Ollman

“The material that we have been provided with so far indicates that there will be changes to the definition of what is reasonable and necessary and there will be changes to foundational support, but there’s no modelling to support that, no modelling that tells us what that looks like.

“And I feel very ill equipped to advise our first minister as to how she should approach those discussions when the Commonwealth are being underhanded.”

The NDIS guidelines state services provided have to be “reasonable and necessary”, related to someone’s disability, represent value for money and must be likely to be effective and work for the participant.

But there’s no definitive list of which therapies are allowed and which ones are not, leaving it open to interpretation.

“I think it’s fair to say that there’s broad agreement across the Commonwealth that we need to ensure that the NDIS is a sustainable system that works for people with disabilities,” Ms Blandthorn said.

“At the moment, we have no clarity as to how we will change reasonable and necessary. There’s no clarity as to what it means for foundational support, and the lack of definition means there’s no clarity about how much any of that will cost.

“My fear would be it would fall on the states and I’m also concerned that the Commonwealth Government is going to cut Victorians out of the NDIS.”

More to come.