Labor says the NDIS is under threat from the Coalition. Photo: iStock/vadimguzhva.
The Coalition is including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in its targets for spending cuts, with Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume describing its growth as out of control.
The Liberal Senator, who wants to sack 36,000 public servants and force the rest back to the office five days a week, also insists essential services are not threatened by the policy.
“Australians should take great comfort in knowing that a Coalition government will not be making cuts to frontline services or essential services,” Senator Hume told Sky News.
“But at some stage, those hard decisions about where we’re going to make changes have to be considered.
“The NDIS, for instance, is one of those areas in the budget that has run out of control. It was growing at 14 per cent per annum.
“Now, when we went into Opposition, the Coalition said to the government that we would work with them to rein in that spending and get it under control.
“It’s been brought back to around 8 per cent. It actually looks like it’s going to be much higher than that this year, but it’s been brought under control somewhat.
“We think that there’s more that can be done. We would hope that when Labor goes into Opposition, they would work with us to try and rein in that.”
Senator Hume did not specify a cost target when asked during the interview, but instead stressed the point that government spending should not outpace wider economic growth over the long term.
Labor has jumped on the comments as evidence the Coalition plans to gut the NDIS.
NDIS Minister Amanda Rishworth said the Opposition had some big questions to answer and further explaining to do over its intentions.
“The comments by Jane Hume suggest that there are cuts going to come,” the Minister told ABC News.
“So she’s got to explain what supports are going to be cut for people with disabilities. Who’s going to be kicked off the NDIS?
“They are the questions. They now need to be upfront and tell people before an election.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the comments would add up to “huge cuts” to the NDIS, particularly if spending growth were tied to GDP growth.
“This means huge cuts to the NDIS, and that would send a shiver up the spine of a lot of people who rely on the program,” Dr Chalmers said.
“That is a very scary proposition.”
The Opposition immediately replied, saying the Ministers’ comments amounted to a “false accusation from a desperate government” and that the Coalition was not planning to cut the scheme.
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) said Senator Hume’s comments had sparked “fear and anger among the disability communities”, who do not wish to see the NDIS used as a political football.
“The NDIS is an essential service, not a luxury,” PWDA Deputy CEO Megan Spindler-Smith said.
”It enables more than 706,000 people with disability to live independently, participate in the workforce and contribute to our communities.
“Any move to restrict access or cut funding is not just a betrayal of our rights – it’s bad economics.
“Every $1 invested in the NDIS returns $2.25 in value to the Australian economy. It also drives job creation.
“For every $1 billion underfunded, over 10,000 jobs are lost. Cutting the NDIS doesn’t save money, it costs more in hospitalisations, crisis services and social supports.”
The Opposition has moved to clarify Senator Hume’s remarks were not related purely to the NDIS or an individual program, but rather overall government spending.
Senator Hume has been an outspoken Shadow Minister when it comes to slashing government spending, insisting the Coalition is serious about its pledge to get rid of 36,000 public servants.
Her insistence that she and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton want APS employees to return to the office full time has been somewhat reined in after a Liberal Party internal backlash over the policy.
“There are many talented, driven people in the Australian Public Service, and if elected, I want them to come back to the office with me to help solve these challenges,” Senator Hume said in a recent speech to the Menzies Research Centre.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Riotact.
