Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann hosted the event at Brothers Leagues Club, which was attended by local NDIS clients, carers and providers, and disability advocates.
In a wide-ranging discussion, the Minister for the NDIS spoke on the Independent NDIS Review, work to further safeguard the Scheme against fraud and the future for the NDIS.
“I was fortunate enough to be able to campaign to create the NDIS more than 15 years ago,” Minister Shorten said.
“Despite a decade of neglect under the Liberals, I can proudly say we are getting the Scheme back on track.
“We now have more people with lived experience on the NDIS board in its history and appointed the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander board member.
“We are getting more people with disability discharged from hospital faster, when they are medically fit to go home. We have slashed the legacy appeals cases that were languishing in long queues at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
“We are tackling fraud, waste and overcharging so that every dollar goes towards a better outcome for the participant, not someone trying to make money out of some of our most vulnerable Australians.
“I established the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, which has investigated more than 100 cases of fraud involving more than $1 billion of NDIS funding.
“And I have strengthened the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission through major budget funding.”
Minister Shorten thanked the local disability sector and advocates for their valuable feedback during the forum.
“If you want to know what’s best for people with disability, listen to people with disability,” Minister Shorten said.
“I’m grateful to Ipswich and Shayne Neumann for having me at such a great NDIS forum.”
Mr Neumann thanked Minister Shorten for participating in the Ipswich forum and congratulated him on his achievements in Parliament, particularly in establishing and reforming the NDIS and thanked the forum participants.
“The NDIS is a world-leading Scheme providing disability support to 661,267 participants, including 7,126 participants in my electorate of Blair,” Mr Neumann said.
“The NDIS has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with disability and their families for the better and the Albanese Labor Government remains committed to improving support for people with disability.
“The forum was also an opportunity to congratulate Bill as a community on a career dedicated to serving the labour movement, working people and the disadvantaged, especially people with disability.
“As Labor Leader, Bill united the party and rebuilt Labor into a strong opposition and genuine alternative government. As a Minister and Shadow Minister, he led the fight for justice for the victims of Robodebt and was one of the founding fathers of the NDIS, which will be his greatest legacy.”
