Keep NDIS minister in cabinet after Bill Shorten, say advocates

Bill Shorten’s retirement will see a new NDIS minister next year in the midst of a huge reform program, with advocates wanting his successor to be in cabinet.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten. Picture: AAP

Anthony Albanese must ensure Bill Shorten’s successor as NDIS Minister remains in cabinet, disability advocates say as they recognise the incumbent’s passion for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and his decades of work on behalf of people with disability.

Mr Shorten’s announcement he will retire from politics in February to become vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra saw advocates praise his commitment to the NDIS, but also demand scheme reform continues.

While Mr Shorten will remain as minister for another five months, there is much still to do to fully reform the NDIS, including agreement on building mainstream supports outside the scheme for those with less profound disability in areas like schools and childcare, so families won’t be solely relying on access to the NDIS for help.

This will help to bring costs of the scheme, currently $44bn a year and growing, under greater control. At present, is a state-­federal process determines what “foundational supports” outside the NDIS will encompass, but concerns remain that the pace of this process is too slow, leaving the NDIS, in Mr Shorten’s words, as the “only lifeboat in the ocean” for people with disability.

In the past few weeks, Mr Shorten negotiated through parliament critical legislation to reform the settings of the NDIS and to set clearer parameters around what can and can’t be claimed by its 660,000 participants. This required the support of the states and the Coalition.

Bruce Bonyhady, one of the original architects of the NDIS and co-chair of an independent review of the scheme that reported to government last year, said it “had been and remains an enormous privilege to have worked so closely with Mr Shorten over 17 years. Bill has made many extraordinary contributions to Australia, especially through his championing of the NDIS from before it was born through to today,” Professor Bonyhady said. “I look forward to assisting him for the next five months as he continues to get NDIS back on track.”

NDIS review co-chair Professor Bruce Bonyhady. Picture: Alan Barber

Australian Federation of Disability Organisations chief executive Ross Joyce said Mr Shorten had a “passion for issues impacting on people with disability and their families … (His) leadership has been crucial in advancing key initiatives and reforms for our community.”

With the reform process midstream, Mr Joyce called on Mr Albanese to “promptly confirm a new minister, cabinet-based, for the NDIS to ensure continuity.”

People with Disability Australia president Marayke Jonkers said Mr Shorten’s role in conceiving the NDIS would long be ­remembered.