Disability Services Minister Craig Crawford today welcomed the public release of the Queensland Productivity Commission's (QPC) final report for the Inquiry into the NDIS market in Queensland and the Queensland Government's response.
"Queensland taxpayers invest over $2 billion a year in the NDIS,'' Mr Crawford said.
"We want to make sure that Queenslanders with disability have every opportunity to access supports under the scheme.
"The QPC's recommendations aim to improve the NDIS operations for more than 92,000 participants and over 6,000 disability service providers across Queensland."
He said the Palaszczuk Government has committed to working with the governing partners on the 56 recommendations to the $26.5 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme.
"The QPC final report provides a range of recommendations designed to enhance the supply of disability supports and services in Queensland and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the NDIS market in Queensland,'' the Minister said.
"It will help us ensure that Queenslanders are getting value for money out of the significant investment we make in the NDIS every year. Our investment aims to support an accessible and high-performing NDIS that delivers for Queenslanders with disability and supports jobs, skills and workforce participation across the state."
Mr Crawford said in addition to helping individuals to get the supports they needed, the NDIS was contributing to jobs growth across Queensland.
"There is $2.93 billion of funded supports committed in current NDIS plans in the Brisbane and Robina NDIS service districts alone, which has driven an increase of more than 16,789 additional workers in the region's disability sector over the past 12 months," he said.
"This means that we need a strong, sustainable and growing NDIS market in Queensland so participants can access the supports they need, when they need them.
"The QPC report includes evidence and recommendations for reform to support development of a high performing NDIS market in Queensland which will meet the needs and preferences of NDIS participants now and into the future."
Mr Crawford said the 56 recommendations made in the final report focused on opportunities for the Queensland Government to enhance its national advocacy and statewide implementation efforts.
"The QPC report recognises that the disability sector has experienced considerable change through the transition to the NDIS and makes targeted recommendations towards achieving incremental, achievable reform," he said.
"The report includes 41 recommendations for the Queensland Government to advocate change at the national level using established arrangements and 15 recommendations for government to implement, including addressing barriers that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people may face in undertaking NDIS worker screening and towards reforming restrictive practices in Queensland."
Mr Crawford thanked Queenslanders who contributed to the Inquiry, including more than 500 stakeholders who participated in individual meetings, roundtables, regional visits and public hearings, as well as 70 written submissions.
The Queensland Government response to the QPC Inquiry sets out a framework for achieving a high performing scheme in Queensland in collaboration with NDIS governing partners across several priority areas:
- An equitable scheme—targeted outreach, access and planning processes that recognise diversity
- Employment outcomes—shifting the dial to improve employment outcomes for people with disability
- Future workforce—a high quality NDIS workforce that is resourced and skilled to deliver real change for participants
- Thin markets—targeted and timely interventions to ensure people with disability can access the supports they need
- Policy and regulatory environment— proportionate and balanced regulation that builds provider confidence and encourages market growth
- A financially sustainable scheme— a focus on improving participant outcomes as being central to scheme sustainability
Person-centred supports—further work to ensure NDIS supports are integrated with other mainstream supports and services.
