Australia’s government-funded Human Rights Commission has urged Labor to “hit pause” on reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, warning it could be left without adequate avenues for accountability and at the whim of sweeping ministerial powers. Source: News.com.au.
In a joint statement, Australian Human Rights Commission president Hugh de Krester and seven commissioners yesterday called on the government to slow down the pace of reform as it faces a protracted review by a Senate committee.
While the commission recognised the need for reform, disability discrimination co-ordinator Rosemary Keyes said the government had instead dismissed “genuine concerns” that changes would “seriously erode the life-changing impact of the scheme”.
“My colleagues and I have some very serious reservations about the process the government has taken to arrive at this point,” Ms Keyes said.
“There’s been no formal response from the government to the NDIS Review and there’s been no meaningful involvement and participation of people with disability in the design of the proposed reforms.”
Ms Keyes warned the reforms, which could mean as many as 160,000 people are booted from the scheme, also removed pathways for accountability, as well as introduce substantial ministerial powers and automated decision-making without a legislative framework.
Mr de Krester said the changes were “significant”, and needed to be with “appropriate consultation, transparency and respect”.
“The Australian Parliament’s own human rights committee has raised concerns that the changes ‘constitute a significant interference with the rights of persons with disability, the rights of the child and the rights to an adequate standard of living, equality and non-discrimination, health, privacy and social security’.
“The Australian government should delay this bill until it sufficiently addresses the concerns being raised.”
First announced by Health Minister Mark Butler at the National Press Club in April, Labor’s proposed reforms would ensure the scheme was sustainable for the long-term by targeting rorting and moving tens of thousands of people off the NDIS, according to the government.
People would be moved onto state and territory schemes, with those governments reluctant to guarantee the replacement schemes.
The Coalition have backed the need to reform the NDIS, but criticised the government’s approach.
FULL STORY
Australian Human Rights Commission calls on Labor to ‘hit pause’ on NDIS reforms (By Nathan Schmidt, News.com.au)
