Australians with disability are still waiting on Tony Abbott to sign the bilateral agreements with the States and the Northern Territory on the full roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme – and they have waited long enough.

 

Today Opposition Leader Bill Shorten MP and Shadow Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin MP visited LEAD Disability Employment to meet with people with disability and their families already benefiting from the NDIS in the Australian Capital Territory.

 

It’s time Tony Abbott made sure people with disability right around Australia can access the NDIS.

 

Tony Abbott must stop dragging his feet on signing these bilateral agreements.

 

The NDIS is already transforming the lives of people with disability in the Australian Capital Territory.

 

At LEAD Disability Employment, the NDIS has meant that many people with disability have been able to take up new employment opportunities.

 

Already, more than 17,300  Australians with disability are getting the support they need because of the NDIS.

At full roll-out more than 460,000 people with disability will benefit from the NDIS.

 

There is no reason for Tony Abbott to delay on the transition to full roll out.

 

New South Wales is ready.

 

Victoria is ready.

 

The National Disability Insurance Agency is ready.

 

People with disability and their families are ready.

 

Before the election, Tony Abbott promised to deliver the NDIS on time and in full.

 

People with disability cannot afford another broken promise from Tony Abbott.

 

Every day that passes without the bilateral agreements being signed puts the full roll out of the NDIS at risk.

 

The only way for Tony Abbott to end the uncertainty of people with disability and show he is committed to the NDIS is to sign the bilateral agreements with New South Wales and Victoria immediately.

 

WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2015

 

MEDIA CONTACT:  LEADER’S OFFICE MEDIA UNIT 02 6277 4053

ALICE KEMBLE (MACKLIN) 0438 693 898