My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing. It is in relation to the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS). The action I seek from the minister is that he host a forum regarding the rollout of the national disability insurance scheme in the south-west in the near future.
As members in the chamber will be aware, last month the Premier of Victoria signed a bilateral agreement with the commonwealth government that will allow for the full rollout of the NDIS in Victoria over the next three years. This means that into the future, the state of Victoria will support people living with a disability with a contribution of $2.5 billion per year, matching the commonwealth government’s contribution. This equates to a doubling of the funds currently committed to support people living with a disability.
More than 105 000 Victorians living with a disability will benefit from the NDIS, a system that gives people the control to live the life they choose and provides access to the support they need, when they need it. With Victoria’s trial sites being in Geelong and Colac, in my electorate, I have had the opportunity and pleasure of being regularly updated on the progress of the NDIS. I am extremely proud of the work that has been undertaken to date and of how the wider community of Geelong and Colac has embraced this once-in-a-generation initiative.
I have no doubt that the rest of the Victoria will embrace this important program. However, there will undoubtedly be many questions as well as feedback from constituents in the south-west before the rollout takes place. The minister is in the best position to team up with representatives of the NDIS and host a forum for people in my electorate, and I request that he do so in the near future.