Disability scheme backlash: We’ve been sold a pup, says NT

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is in danger of falling apart before it begins, with calls for a dramatic redesign.

The $22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme is in danger of falling apart before it begins as the Northern Territory government calls for a dramatic redesign in ­remote areas and Western Aus­tralia becomes more convinced it should go its own way.

The Australian can reveal more than half of those in the Northern Territory Barkly trial, which ­includes Tennant Creek, have failed to qualify for the scheme. NT Disability Services Minister John Elferink said his government would end up paying more money to provide for two distinct dis­ability groups.

“The NDIS is a product of the last federal election,” he said. “The Labor Party sat there and said, ‘Here’s a puppy’. And the Liberals said, ‘Well, we’re not going to sit there and criticise a puppy, so it’s our puppy, too’. That’s fine if it’s going to grow into a nice labrador or golden retriever but, unfort­unately, I think it’s going to grow into a doberman.”

The full rollout, due by 2019-20, will see the NT government spend $99 million on the scheme compared with $103m by the commonwealth but the Territory says it will need to spend a further $20m maintaining disability support for those who do not qualify.

Some people did not qualify for the NDIS because they simply could not be found. Others, ­according to a National Disability Insurance Agency spokeswoman, simply were not eligible. “Seventy-three out of the 124 people originally referred through the Section 55 process by NT government have not entered the scheme for a range of reasons, including no significant functional impairment as a result of disability, not meeting residency or age requirements, or the person being satisfied with ­existing supports, including informal community and family supports,” the spokeswoman said.

The NT government also said in some cases the medical system was more appropriate for people, although this flies in the face of most disability advocacy.

WA Premier Colin Barnett reiterated his support for his state’s My Way trial, which runs in competition to the NDIS pending an evaluation. “It is inevitable that the costs of the NDIS, however it is structured, are going to be higher than initially estimated,” he said.

Indigenous disability groups strongly support a regional delivery model in remote areas, reflecting culture and language groups.

“The disability sector is changing, and the NT government needs to change its approach along with it,” First Peoples Disability Network chief executive Damian Griffis said. “It makes considerable sense to build capacity within these communities to provide services locally, such as equipment repair and personal support. The benefits are threefold: the work stays in the community; the costs are reduced; and the level and availability of service provision is increased.”

Mr Elferink said the commonwealth was willing to consider a ­regional approach and a second trial, similar to the current disability system, would begin in the Territory. “Under the structure in the NT, it cannot be the model being run in Sydney and Melbourne,” he said. “We are delivering services for a very substantial body of remote and regional people.”

Assistant Social Services Minister Mitch Fifield said he would “never want to let design elegance get in the way of practical outcomes on the ground”.