NSW Labor’s Kate Washington continues to play politics with some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Ms Washington’s claims (Leader, July 25) that the NSW Government privatised the disability sector is false.
Prior to the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), non-government organisations provided more than 60 per cent of all disability services in NSW.
The transfer of disability services to the non-government sector supports the delivery of the NDIS, giving people with disability in NSW more choice and control. NGO’s have the flexibility and responsiveness required to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people.
Our key consideration in transferring services to highly regarded NGOs, such as the Benevolent Society, Northcott and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, is the providers’ capacity to grow and expand specialist disability services.
The NSW Liberal government has paid off the debt and cleaned up the mess left by Labor, allowing us to provide $3.2 billion each year to the NDIS.
Thousands of people with disability in NSW are better off under the NDIS. More than 90,000 people with disability are now benefiting from the NDIS. It is expected the NDIS will have the capacity to support up to 140,000 people with disability in NSW.
We are committed to the NDIS and will work with all parties, including the Commonwealth, to ensure the NDIS delivers quality supports for people with disability.
Ray Williams MP
