NDIS Bill Moves Closer

A bill to create the NDIS could be introduced into parliament before the end of the year.

A Bill to create the National Disability Insurance Scheme could be introduced to Parliament before the end of the year.

The Senate Estimates Committee has heard that legislation is currently being prepared to establish the Agency however an exposure draft is yet to be finalised.

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) deputy secretary Rebecca Cross told a Senate estimates hearing that the NDIS would be a key item for an upcoming COAG meeting in December.

Cross told the hearing that the legislation being prepared covers some aspects of governance, and some aspects of the design of the scheme.

“Generally, in our joint arrangements, the department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is leading the work on funding and governance, and FaHCSIA is leading the work on design," Cross said. 

“The intention is to have it introduced before the end of this year.”

However, Cross told the hearing she did not think there were enough sitting weeks to have it passed.

Senate Committee Member senator, Mitch Fifield said he thought there would be a desire to have a proper Senate inquiry into the legislation, given its significance.

The Federal Government announced in April that the NDIS trials would begin across Australia in mid-2013 and in the May Budget $1 billion was allocated over four years towards the start up of the scheme. 

The States have been asked to provide $20,779 per client in the NDIS launch sites.