Queensland Becomes First State to Unlock NDIS Funding
11 July 2017 at 5:20 pm
Queensland has become the first state to sign up to the National Partnership DisabilityCare Australia Fund (DCAF) to secure NDIS funding.
The Queensland government signed on to the National Partnership on DCAF on Tuesday, securing an initial payment of $52.8 million in 2017.
Coming from Medicare levy contributions, the funds will reimburse the Queensland government for their expenditure in the first two years of the scheme.
Minister for Social Services Christian Porter encouraged other states and territories to also sign up.
“It’s great to see these Medicare levy contributions flowing helping Queenslanders with severe disability get the help they need under the NDIS,” Porter said.
“This National Partnership also paves the way for some further work by all disability, ministers through the Disability Reform Council, to make sure our governance settings for managing NDIS risks are simple and agile enough for such a major reform.”
Assistant minister for disability services Jane Prentice said more than 5,000 Queenslanders were benefiting from an NDIS plan.
“This is another step towards implementing the NDIS across Queensland, ensuring taxpayer contributions flow to the right place, at the right time, just as they should,” Prentice said.
Queensland minister for disability services Coralee O’Rourke said the NDIS has been rolling out across Queensland as planned and securing the funding would allow give more certainty to Queenslanders with disability and their families and carers.