House debates

Thursday, 1 June 2017

Questions without Notice

National Disability Insurance Scheme

2:38 pm

Photo of Christian PorterChristian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I am just about to read from it. After diligent search, there it was, nestled gently among the Phil Collins CDs in the bargain bin at the second-hand shop. There it appeared: a copy of the literary classic The Good Fight. Comrades—the good fight! What it says at chapter 20 is this:

More savings were required to fund the NDIS. By May we had effectively ruled out every option except an addition to the Medicare levy. We needed to ensure the long-term sustainable funding for the scheme and there was simply no other workable option. There was broad community acceptance that the NDIS was a worthwhile investment—less than a dollar a day for someone on average wages.

The title of the chapter that has this amazing exposition of coalition policy, chapter 20, is 'Hanging tough'. Hanging Tough is not merely the second studio album by the American boy band New Kids on the Block—'hanging tough' is the language of the street, that perfectly distils the unshakeable commitment of the member for Lilley to fund the NDIS through the Medicare levy.

How is it hanging in 2016? Sadly, it is not hanging tough anymore. So we say to the member for Lilley—get tough! Toughen up! Join the good fight! Support the NDIS!

Mr Pasin interjecting

Mr Frydenberg interjecting

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