Whitlam MP Stephen Jones has used the plight of a young Illawarra girl with severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy to highlight all that's wrong with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
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Mr Jones told Parliament this week that the Coalition government had failed in its handling of the NDIS - and not allowed the scheme to live up to its promise.
In particular, he said, it had failed one of his constituents - 16-year-old Berkeley girl Clara Bates.
Clara's mother Julie Bates had contacted his office in mid-April, frustrated she was getting nowhere with an application for a vital piece of equipment that would help her daughter gain some independence - and reduce her risk of injury.
Ms Bates had submitted an application to the National Disability Insurance Agency for a standing power-chair for Clara in July 2018, after it was recommended by her occupational therapist. She was still awaiting a verdict.
Yet, after Mr Jones intervened in April, the NDIA approved the request in May and it was finally delivered to Clara this month.
"The problem here is it took over 12 months for her to get this vital piece of equipment," he told Parliament. "The avenue for resolving these disputes shouldn't have to be contacting your local member of parliament, as willing as we are to assist our constituents in resolving these complaints.
"The problem is the staffing arrangements, the problem is the funding arrangements for the NDIS."
Mr Jones said the government had a lot of work to do to regain the trust of clients and their carers in the NDIS.
"I was proud to campaign for the creation of the NDIS - Australia's most important social policy reform since the introduction of Medicare," he said.
"When it was rolled out under Labor it promised to revolutionise disability services and give people living with disability and their carers a greater choice and more control over their lives.
"Sadly the coalition government's handling of the scheme has fatal flaws which means it's not living up to its promise."
Mr Jones said the government's failure to fund staff properly, its outsourcing of core functions and funding problems had "nobbled the NDIS in its infancy".
"I was horrified when the government announced it had underspent $1.6 billion on the NDIS and this money would be diverted to prop up the flaky promise of a government surplus," he said.
"How could a government underspend on the NDIS when constituents in my electorate couldn't get the basic care and the basic equipment they need and were promised.
"This NDIS funded windfall may prop up the government but it comes at the expense of young people in my electorate like Clara Bates."
Mr Jones' speech comes as the NDIA this week released the results of its first annual survey of NDIS participants.
"The Participant Outcomes Data shows the NDIS is having a significant and positive effect on the lives of people with disability and their families," NDIA acting CEO Vicki Rundle said.
"The results demonstrate that NDIS participants are experiencing improvements across multiple areas of their lives - thanks to their individualised NDIS plan with tailored supports and funding."
However Ms Rundle said there was "much more work" to be done. "While some of the outcomes for NDIS participants will improve relatively quickly, others will be much more long-term.
"The results of the survey provide us with valuable data to make sure participants and their families and carers are getting the very best out of the NDIS, and given every opportunity to achieve their goals, and reach their social and economic potential."
