New national disability insurance agency board on way

The federal government has begun circulating a “position specification” to potential new board members for the $22bn NDIS.

The federal government has begun circulating a “position specification” to potential new board members for the $22 billion national disability insurance scheme, which begins full rollout next year.

The terms for the eight-­member board of the National Disability Insurance Agency are due to expire at the end of June next year just as the scheme begins a transformation from trial phase to full launch.

The number of people using the scheme will increase from 30,000 people to 460,000 over the next three years.

The move to remix the board, which is heavy with experience in the disability sector, has drawn criticism from the sector and the federal opposition for tampering with a team that is working.

The former chairman of disability organisation Yooralla, Bruce Bonyhady, who himself has two children with disability, is currently chairman of the NDIA.

Mr Bonyhady, who also has a background in funds management, is understood to have clashed with some in the ­Coalition government.

The position specification designed by Russell Reynolds Associates and circulated on Wednesday night to potential candidates calls for people with skills in one of “the provision or use of disability services, the operation of insurance schemes, compensation schemes or schemes with long-term liabilities, financial management (or) corporate governance”.

Candidates should “have the ability to actively work with high level stakeholders, including government ministers and senior public servants” and “be able to clearly articulate strategic risks and how these risks are being ­effectively managed”.

The document clearly states that the majority of NDIA board members should “have experience as a senior manager or chief executive officer”.

The board issue has been used by Labor to fan the flames of mistrust around the rollout of the scheme, which will give uncapped funding directly to 460,000 ­people to buy support for themselves such as in-home assistance or wheelchairs.

Labor has also leapt on delays in the signing of commonwealth-state negotiations for the full rollout of the NDIS as proof the Coalition’s commitment to the scheme is faltering, although The Australian understands these agreements are now imminent.

Board members are paid $55,040 a year for the part-time roles and the NDIA chair is paid $110,080 with extra loadings of between $7500 and $15,000 for those on the audit committee.

Assistant Social Services Minister Mitch Fifield has hit back at claims that the board selection process had been implemented by “stealth”. “As I have indicated publicly ... it is the intention of government that the new board will ensure continuity through the continuation of some existing board members, combined with new members, to oversee the transition phase the NDIS is ­entering,” he said.

“The new board will include some members with experience on the boards of large listed companies or Government Business Enterprises, the requirements detailed in the NDIS Act and people with relevant skill sets and lived experience of disability.”