Disability Transport Services

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (15:03): Supplementary arising from the original answer: how, exactly, will the minister ensure that people who do not have adequate transport subsidies in their NDIS plans, such as those with intellectual disability, are not excluded or disadvantaged?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:03): I do find, from the member's original question, the concept of people being excluded from having that in their plans disturbing, and if there are any individual cases, we are more than happy to advocate for those. The process, in terms of people's plans—there is a particular process in place, and people are able to seek reviews of those, and indeed they can even take those rulings to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal if they are not satisfied.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: So you won't do anything. Is that the answer? You won't do anything to help.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: But we are also able to make inquiries through the members' and senators' contact office, which—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: So nothing to do with you, yet again.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Scriven will come to order.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Mr President, I think the honourable member wasn't actually even listening to what I was saying, that we are able to advocate on behalf of individuals through that MASCO process, and I am more than happy to take up any of those. I find it hard to believe that it would be a particular policy decision of the NDIS, but if there are individuals who have been impacted then we are more than happy to take up their case on their behalf.