Safeguarding Taskforce Interim Report

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:50): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Human Services a question regarding disability services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: In previous question times the minister has answered questions in relation to the sharing of information about checks for people working with people living with a disability. The minister has said that it is the commonwealth's responsibility for those who are employed but is not sure what information the state gives the commonwealth; but it is a state responsibility for the screening of such workers but is not sure what information the commonwealth gives to the state.

The Safeguarding Taskforce Interim Report of June 2020 in a number of places, but particularly recommendation 8.4 and safeguarding gap 11, suggests that the minister's department, that is, the Department of Human Services, revisits the information sharing guidelines as they impact on the screening of workers. My question to the minister is: what information sharing guidelines are they referring to?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his question. I have to repeat what I have advised previously to the house because it does seem that the Labor Party doesn't actually understand how the NDIS operates on a number of levels. The responsibility for regulating organisations that provide NDIS services rests with the Quality and Safeguards Commission as the federal regulator. Under their rules, providers are required to ensure that all relevant staff have an appropriate screening, which is provided by the Department of Human Services, and that is how the system operates.