Travel access outcry over NDIS cab gap

THE State Government has reminded people with disabilities they are not obliged to join the NDIS following an outcry over reduced access to travel subsidies.

Disability advocates are concerned Tasmanians who have been stripped of travel subsidies after joining the NDIS will struggle with access to support services. Picture: THINKSTOCK

THE State Government has reminded Tasmanians with disabilities they are not obliged to join the National Disability Insurance Scheme following an outcry over reduced access to travel subsidies as the program rolls out.

Transport Minister Rene Hidding said the State Government would continue to provide a taxi subsidy for those not covered by the national insurance scheme, but could not fund those who had switched to the NDIS.

“Nobody is obliged to become an NDIS participant. If a person doesn’t become a participant they can continue to receive taxi subsidies through the Tasmanian Government program,” Mr Hidding said.

Disability advocates are concerned Tasmanians who have been stripped of travel subsidies after joining the NDIS will struggle with access to support services.

Labor disability spokesman Josh Willie said the state had an obligation to ensure no one who transitioned to the NDIS was worse off.

“Tasmanians with a disability should not have to choose between transitioning to the NDIS and fair access to public transport,” he said.

MORE: BLIND AND STRANDED WITHOUT TAXI HELP

He said more Tasmanians were becoming anxious about life without a Taxi Smartcard, which gave holders 50 per cent off taxi fares.

The Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby said a number of people were facing reduced travel allowances.

“People are going to stop using services because they can’t get to them,” said lobby founder Kristen Desmond.

Letters were sent to many Tasmanians in September warning their Smartcards would be cancelled from November 1 because their NDIS plan would cover “reasonable and necessary” travel costs. But many were angry the NDIS transport allowances were less than before.

Mr Hidding said the state made a $572 million commitment over the next four years to help establish the NDIS.

As part of the agreement, the Tasmanian Government will transfer funds it would have contributed to taxi support to the Commonwealth.

A National Disability Insurance Agency spokeswoman said some people entered the scheme with transport funding supplemented by the state that would be adjusted over time, in line with what was deemed “reasonable and necessary” under the NDIS.

“Participants can choose to spend more of the core supports in their plan on transport if they wish to do so,” the spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Travel access outcry over NDIS cab gap