Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        The Hon. Christian Porter MP, Minister for Social Services, House of Representatives Hansard, 31 May 2017, p. 5741.

[2]        The Hon. Christian Porter MP, Minister for Social Services, House of Representatives Hansard, 31 May 2017, p. 5741.

[3]        Explanatory Memorandum (EM), pp. iv–v.

[4]        As completed by Ernst and Young.

[5]        Department of Social Services (Department), NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework,  December 2016, p. 9.

[6]        Department, NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework, December 2016, pp [TBC].

[7]        Department, NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework, December 2016, pp. 8–10.

[8]        EM, p. ii.

[9]        Commonwealth of Australia, Budget Measures: Budget Paper No. 2 2017–18, p. 154.

[10]      Ernst and Young, Independent review of the NDIS Act, December 2015, p. 3.

[11]      Ernst and Young, Independent review of the NDIS Act, December 2015, pp. 5–6.

[12]      Council of Australian Governments Disability Reform Council, COAG response to the independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, December 2016.

[13]      EM, p. v.

[14]      EM, pp. 68–71.

[15]      EM, p. vi.

[16]      EM, p. vi.

[17]      Commonwealth of Australia, Budget Measures: Budget Paper No. 2 2017–18, p. 154.

[18]      Ms Anna Fieldhouse, Department of Social Services, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 31.

[19]      EM, p. 97.

[20]      Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 6/17, pp. 50–55.

[21]      EM [statement of compatibility with human rights, p. 13].

[22]      Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, Human rights scrutiny report: Report 7 of 2017, August 2017, p. 28.

[23]      Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, Human rights scrutiny report: Report 7 of 2017, August 2017, p. 29.

[24]      House of Representatives, Votes and Proceedings, No. 56, 31 May 2017, p. 801.

[25]      Journals of the Senate, No. 55, 17 August 2017, p. 1759.

[26]      Journals of the Senate, No. 62, 13 September 2017, p. 1983.

[27]      Journals of the Senate, No. 64, 16 October 2017, p. 2062.

[28]      See: Community Affairs Legislation Committee, https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/NDISQualitySafeguards (accessed 6 September 2017).

Chapter 2 - Key issues identified

[1]        See for example National Disability Insurance Agency, Submission 7, p. 1; National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum, Submission 12, p. 1; ACT Human Rights Commission, Submission 23, p. 1; Disabled Peoples Organisation Australia (DPOA), Submission 34, p. 5; People with Disabilities Western Australia (PWD WA), Submission 45.

[2]        Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department of Social Services (Department), Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 26.

[3]        Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), Submission 21, p. 11.

[4]        United Voice, Submission 32, p. 5.

[5]        Health Services Union (HSU), Submission 30, p. 5.

[6]        ACT Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner (PACYPC), Submission 23, p. 4.

[7]        Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest No. 8: Ministerial responses – response from the Hon Christian Porter MP, 9 August 2017, p. 3.

[8]        Provisions for the NDIS Rules are specified under Section 209 of the Act, as legislative instruments made by the Minister for the purposes of the Act.

[9]        Department, Submission 4, p. 20.

[10]      DPOA, Submission 34, p. 6.

[11]      Queensland Office of the Public Advocate, Submission 2, p. 1.

[12]      Law Council of Australia, Submission 11, p. 2.

[13]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 11.

[14]      Carers Victoria and Carers Queensland, Submission 27, p. 1.

[15]      Department, Submission 4, p. 6.

[16]      Department, Answers to Questions on Notice taken 5 September 2017, [p. 5].

[17]      JFA Purple Orange, Submission 37, p. 12.

[18]      HSU, Submission 30, p. 5. See also United Voice, Submission 32, p. 5.

[19]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 17.

[20]      PWD WA, Submission 45, p. 5.

[21]      Department, Submission 4, p. 10.

[22]      United Voice, Submission 32, p. 4.

[23]      Australian Services Union, Submission 31, pp. 5-6.

[24]      PACYPC, Submission 23, p. 6.

[25]      Department, Submission 4, p. 9.

[26]      Department, Submission 4, p. 9.

27      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 26.

[28]      National Disability Services (NDS), Submission 22, p. 2.

[29]      Carers Victoria and Carers Queensland, Submission 27, p. 1.

[30]      EM, p. 65.

[31]      Victorian Government, Submission 25, p. 2.

[32]      NDS, Submission 22, p. 1. See also submissions from ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS), Submission 24, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) and (Disability Advocacy Network of Australia (DANA), Submission 44, VCOSS, Submission 21 and Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance, Submission 43.

[33]      DPOA, Submission 34, p. 6.

[34]      AFDO and DANA, Submission 44, p. 11. This issue was also raised in submissions from ADACAS, Submission 24, NDS, Submission 22, Northcott, Submission 46, and VCOSS, Submission 21.

[35]      PACYPC, Submission 23, p. 3.

[36]      NDS, Submission 22, [p. 22].

[37]      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 24.

[38]      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 26.

[39]      Mr Bruce Smith, Branch Manager, Quality and Safeguards Policy, Department, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 26.

[40]      See submissions from Catholic Social Services Australia, Submission 19, National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum, Submission 12, Volunteering Australia, Submission 20 and Young People In Nursing Homes National Alliance, Submission 43.

[41]      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 23.

[42]      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 23.

[43]      National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Quality and Safeguards Commission and Other Measures) Bill 2017, proposed subsection 181K(1).

[44]      Ms Therese Sands, Director, DPOA, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, pp.1–2.

[45]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 8; National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum, Submission 12, p. 2; Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Submission 15, p. 1; Council for Intellectual Disability NSW, Submission 25, p.4.

[46]      Mr Patrick McGee, National Manager – Policy, Advocacy and Research, AFDO, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 3.

[47]      Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI), Submission 35, [p. 22]. 

[48]      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 25.

49      Council for Intellectual Disability, Submission 25, p. 5.

[50]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 8.

[51]      Office of the Public Advocate Victoria, (OPA Victoria), Submission 29, p. 6.

[52]      Ms Colleen Pearce, Public Advocate, OPA Victoria, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 12.

[53]      EM, p. 59.

[54]      Carers Australia, Submission 1, p. 2; Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV), Submission 16, p. 2.

[55]      OPA Victoria, Submission 29, p. 6.

[56]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 9.

[57]      Department, Submission 4, p. 8.

[58]      The Hon Christian Porter MP, Minister for Social Services, House of Representatives Hansard, 31 May 2017, p. 5741.

[59]      NDS, Submission 22, pp. 3–4. Similar concerns were raised in submissions from Australian Services Union, Submission 31, Catholic Social Services Australia, Submission 19, United Voice, Submission 32 and VCOSS, Submission 21.

[60]      Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Submission 15, p. 1.

[61]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 17.

[62]      HSU, Submission 30, pp. 4-7.

[63]      Department, Submission 4, p. 10.

[64]      Department, Submission 4, p. 10.

[65]      HSU, Submission 30, pp. 7-8.

[66]      United Voice, Submission 32, p. 5.

[67]      United Voice, Submission 32, pp. 5-6.

[68]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 15.

[69]      NDS, Submission 22, p. 4. See also Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Australia, Submission 33, p. 2.

[70]      Department, Submission 4, p. 11.

[71]      EM, p. 71.

[72]      See submissions from Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, DPOA, Submission 31, JFA Purple Orange, Submission 37, National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum, Submission 12, People with Disabilities WA (PWD WA), Submission 45, VICSERV, Submission 16 and Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID), Submission 26.

[73]      VICSERV, Submission 16, p. 3.

[74]      DPOA, Submission 34, pp. 12-13.

[75]      See submissions from PWD WA, Submission 45, QAI, Submission 35 and VALID, Submission 26.

[76]      This issue was raised in submissions from PACYPC, Submission 23, AFDO and DANA, Submission 44, Alzheimer's Australia, Submission 14, DPOA, Submission 34, OPA Victoria, Submission 29,  and VCOSS, Submission 21.

[77]      AFDO and DANA, Submission 44, p. 16.

[78]      OPA Victoria, Submission 29, p. 3.

[79]      DPOA, Submission 34, pp. 10-11. See also submissions from PWD WA, Submission 45, and QAI, Submission 35.

[80]      PACYPC, Submission 23, p. 3.

[81]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 20. This issue was also raised by VALID, Submission 26.

[82]      AFDO and DANA, Submission 44, p. 15.

[83]      QAI, Submission 35, p. 4.

[84]      VALID, Submission 26, p. 5. The lack of funding for independent advocacy was also raised by  ADACAS, Submission 24, Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation (AMIDA), Submission 36, PWD WA, Submission 45, QAI, Submission 35, and VCOSS, Submission 21.

[85]      EM, pp. 55–56.

[86]      Bill, proposed paragraph 73F(2)(h).

87      AFDO and DANA, Submission 44, p. 19.

[88]      EM, p. 55.

[89]      Department, Submission 4, p. 6.

[90]      Department, NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework, December 2016, p. 71.

[91]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 12.

[92]      VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 13.

[93]      DPOA, Submission 34, p. 8.

[94]      Ms Therese Sands, Director, DPOA, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 2.

[95]      OPA Victoria, Submission 29, pp. 9–10.

[96]      DPOA, Submission 34, p. 8.

[97]      PACYPC, Submission 23 p. 5.

[98]      AMIDA, Submission 36, p. 3.

[99]      QAI, Submission 35, [p. 11].

[100]    Department, Submission 4, p. 12.

[101]    Department, Submission 4, p. 14.

[102]    Department, NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework, December 2016, p. 48. 

[103]    Department, NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework, December 2016, p. 96. 

[104]    AMIDA, Submission 36, [p.2].

[105]    Bill, proposed paragraphs 73X(2)(g) and 73Z(2)(d).

[106]    VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 10.

[107]    VCOSS, Submission 21, p. 10.

[108]    Home Modifications Australia, Submission 6, p. 5; NDS, Submission 22, [p. 3]. ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service, Submission 24, p. [1]; Council for Intellectual Disability, Submission 25, p. 5; OPA Victoria, Submission 29, p. 9.

[109]    Mr Mark Farthing, Senior Policy Advisor, HSU, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 24.

[110]    EM, p. 74.

[111]    Tasmanian Government, Submission 48, p. 1.

[112]    Mr Andrew Whitecross, Group Manager, NDIS Market Reform, DSS, Committee Hansard,
5 September 2017, p. 25.

[113]    Department, Submission 4, p. 6.

[114]    EM, pp. 56–57.

Additional comments by Australian Greens Senators

[1]        Ms Therese Sands, Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 1. 

[2]        Community Affairs References Committee, "Violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including the gender and age related dimensions, and the particular situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability", November 2015, p. xv.

[3]        Community Affairs References Committee, "Violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including the gender and age related dimensions, and the particular situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability", November 2015, p. xv.

[4]        Ms Melissa Coad, United Voice, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 20. 

[5]        Ms Leigh Svendsen, Health Services Union (National), Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 23. 

[6]        Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department of Social Services, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 28. 

[7]        Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 6/17, p. 52.

[8]        Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 8/17, p. 115.

[9]        Disabled People's Organisation, Submission 34, p. 6.

[10]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 11.

[11]      Victorian Government, Submission 38, p. 2.

[12]      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department of Social Services, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 34. 

[13]      Mr Patrick McGee, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 3.

[14]      Ms Emma King, Victorian Council of Social Service, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 13. 

[15]      Ms Therese Sands, Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 4.

[16]      Disability Advocacy Network of Australia and the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, Submission 44, p. 22.

[17]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 10.

[18]      Majority Committee Report, p. 23.

[19]      Mr Andrew Whitecross, Department of Social Services, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 36.

[20]      Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest 6/17, p. 51.

[21]      Health Services Union, Submission 30, p. 5.

[22]      Ms Mary Mallett, Disability Advocacy Network of Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 4.

[23]      Mr Mark Farthing, Health Services Union (Victoria No. 2 Branch (HACSU)), Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, pp. 24-25.

[24]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 17.

[25]      National Disability Services, Submission 22, pp. 3-4.

[26]      Ms Melissa Coad, United Voice, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 20. 

[27]      Mr Mark Farthing, Health Services Union (Victoria No. 2 Branch (HACSU)), Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 20.

[28]      Ms Leigh Svendsen, Health Services Union (National), Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 20. 

[29]      Health Services Union, Submission 30, p. 7.

[30]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 15.

[31]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 10.

[32]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 11.

[33]      Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner, Submission 23, p. 6.

[34]      Queensland Advocacy Incorporated, Submission 35, p. 4.

[35]      People with Disability Western Australia, Submission 45, p. 9.

[36]      Ms Linda White, Australian Services Union, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 17.

[37]      Ms Linda White, Australian Services Union, Committee Hansard, 5 September 2017, p. 20. 

[38]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 8.

[39]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 8.

[40]      Ms Therese Sands, Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 September 2017, p. 2.

[41]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 12.

[42]      Office of Public Advocate Victoria, Submission 29, pp. 9-10.

[43]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 12.

[44]      Victorian Council of Social Service, Submission 21, p. 13.

[45]      Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner, Submission 23, p. 5.

[46]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 9.

[47]      People with Disabilities Western Australia, Submission 45, p. 4.

[48]      People with Disability Western Australia, Submission 45, p. 8.

[49]      Disability Advocacy Network of Australia and the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, Submission 44, p. 22.

[50]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, pp. 9-10.

[51]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 4.

[52]      Ernst & Young, “Independent review of the NDIS Act”, December 2015, Department of Social Services, p. 68.

[53]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 68.

[54]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 10.

[55]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 10.

[56]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 11.

[57]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 74.

[58]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 11.

[59]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 12.

[60]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, pp. 4-5.

[61]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, p. 3.

[62]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, p. 3.

[63]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, p. 4.

[64]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 13.

[65]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, p. 6.

[66]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, p. 6.

[67]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 14.

[68]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 14.

[69]      Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UN Doc A/RES/61/106, Preamble (p).

[70]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 14.

[71]      Civil Society Statement to the Australian Government, May 2017, p. 4.

[72]      Disabled People's Organisations Australia, Submission 34, p. 15.

[73]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, p. 5.

[74]      Community Mental Health Australia, Submission 18, p. 6.