NSW GOVT USES NDIS ROLL OUT AS TROJAN HORSE FOR PRIVATISATION OF DISABILITY SERVICES
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The O鈥橣arrell government will withdraw completely from disability services by 2018, leaving people with a disability in NSW at risk, according to the NSW Public Service Association.
Assistant Secretary Steve Turner said the State government鈥檚 National Disability Insurance Scheme (NSW Enabling) Bill cuts critical public disability support services.
鈥淧eople with some of the most complex disabilities and in need of greatest care will be at most risk from the government鈥檚 abdication of responsibility,鈥 Mr Turner said.
鈥淧remier O鈥橣arrell is using the introduction of the NDIS as a Trojan horse for a cut to the choice and quality of services available to support people with a disability and their families in NSW,鈥 Ms Gardiner said today.
鈥淏arry O鈥橣arrell was the first state premier in Australia to sign the NDIS agreement. However, it now seems his real agenda was to abandon the government鈥檚 responsibility for meeting the needs of people with a disability.
鈥淭he wholesale outsourcing of disability services will not deliver better services nor choice for people with a disability, their families and carers.
鈥淚n fact, history suggests the privatisation of public services has not offered a better service when it comes to providing complex social services.
鈥淭he changes to disability services in NSW will decrease accountability, cost more money in the long run and deliver no guarantee of matching the high level of support offered by ADHC鈥檚 professional staff.
鈥淥ur members tell us clients with complex or difficult needs are already often transferred back to the public system. Where will they go when this system has been dismantled?
鈥淭he critical impacts of the privatisation of disability support have not been fully explained to the community or opened for a transparent public debate.
鈥淭he dismantling of the public disability support system will only increase pressure on non-government providers by removing critical existing infrastructure, specialist services and key choices currently available to people with a disability.
鈥淭he O鈥橣arrell government should withdraw this contentious Bill and aim to improve services by building on existing services, including investment in ADHC and its professional staff,鈥 he said.