National Disability Insurance Scheme

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Disabilities. Can the minister update the house on the full rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in South Australia?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:16): I thank the member for her question. This is the question that, actually, most parents put to me, rather than the question that the opposition is interested in. The opposition—

Dr McFetridge: Results, Tony—we want results.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: That's exactly right, and that's why we will be talking about results, rather—

Dr McFetridge: Victoria and New South Wales—they've signed up.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: That's right. I can advise the house that the NDIS scheme in South Australia is now in its third year. The NDIA's latest quarterly report tells us that there are 4,660 children in South Australia with approved plans, equating to 99 per cent of South Australia's bilateral target. In fact—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Well, actually, we have got it right because South Australia has more approved plans than any other state in the country, so in terms of transitioning our children to the national scheme to make sure more people benefit from the national scheme, we are actually leading the country in that regard. That is a record I am proud of.

This is changing the lives of children living with disability, their families and carers. However, some of the good news has been lost in the public debate amongst some about the ongoing participant numbers. That, in itself, as the previous minister and I agreed, has been an unhelpful commentary and a distraction from the main game, which is actually rolling out the full scheme.

As recently as the weekend, the former assistant minister for disabilities was quoted in The Australian as saying: 'The Australian government has committed to bearing 100 per cent of the risk of higher than expected costs during the trial.' This comment shows that the issue of the number of participants has moved into the past and that both the commonwealth and state governments are keen to finalise the trial and transition to the full scheme.

The 2013-14 state budget set out South Australia's full disability funding commitment over seven years, in preparation for the full commencement of the scheme. Under the full scheme, the state government contribution will rise to $723 million, with a commonwealth contribution to the South Australian scheme of around $760 million. In total, the full South Australian scheme will be funded by $1.483 billion.

While welcoming the news that the commonwealth government has rolled out agreements with Victoria and New South Wales, I am keen, obviously, to be the next cab off the rank to sign with the commonwealth. When fully operational, the NDIS scheme will include every eligible South Australian with a disability under the age of 65 and will benefit more than 32,000 people.

I had a very positive working relationship with the former minister, the Hon. Mitch Fifield, and I congratulate him on his recent promotion. Yesterday, I was able to speak with the new federal Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Christian Porter, to congratulate him on his promotion and advise him that South Australia is ready to finalise our agreement with the commonwealth for the full rollout of the scheme. I thanked him for taking my call on such a busy day and I was happy to hear that he also agrees that an agreement to the full rollout of the scheme should occur as soon as possible. In closing, I extend my best wishes to Christian and his wife, Jennifer, on the imminent birth of their first child today and I look forward to meeting them in the future.