State and territory ministers for disability services are being urged to oppose the Federal Government's proposed changes to the NDIS which will mandate independent assessments.
"The proposed changes will cause irreparable damage to the individual and personal nature of the NDIS, resulting in an automated process that will not adequately consider individual needs and circumstances," said Mr Graham Droppert SC, National President, Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
"We have written to each state and territory minister for disability services explaining our concerns and urging them to oppose the planned independent assessments when they meet this Friday."
Many ALA members are lawyers who represent people with significant disability, or who have suffered catastrophic injury and require the assistance and support provided by the NDIS.
"The proposed changes will undermine the legislative intent of the scheme and will result in many people with disability unable to access the support they need," said Mr Droppert SC.
"The independence of the assessors will also come into question if they are engaged and funded by the NDIS. We are concerned that the underlying motivation for these reforms is to cut costs.
"The independent assessment plan will also undermine the review and appeals process. It will make it more difficult for participants to challenge incorrect plans based on the assessments, even if the assessment is based on incorrect or incomplete information, or is simply wrong."
