A national disability insurance scheme must be at the core of any National Disability Strategy

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, today called on the major parties to commit to introducing a national disability insurance scheme.

Dr Pesce said a national disability insurance scheme must be at the core of any National Disability Strategy and should be one of the first decisions of the next Government.

“Labor’s draft National Disability Strategy is based on the right for people with disability to enjoy full and effective participation and inclusion in society, and the right to have respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and to be independent,” Dr Pesce said.

“But these principles are not supported properly in Australia today.

“A national disability insurance scheme that provides long-term care and support to all Australians with a serious or profound disability would help ensure that these rights were achieved.

“The Productivity Commission is currently conducting an inquiry into a national disability long-term care and support scheme, including consideration of a national disability insurance scheme, and I am a member of the panel providing advice to that process.

“The inquiry is operating on the basis that there is already an established need for such a scheme in Australia, so their work is focused on how a national disability scheme could be designed, administered, financed and implemented.

“The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, has galvanised considerable resolve to address the needs of people with disabilities, and strongly supports the need for a national disability insurance scheme.

“Both Labor and the Coalition should now commit to accept the recommendations of the Productivity Commission and make the scheme a reality,” Dr Pesce said.