Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

There are times in this chamber when, of course, we come together on important issues of public policy because we all care about not just the future of the country but particularly the most vulnerable of Australians. Then we sometimes come in here and we have—let's face it—somewhat hysterical motions put forward by the opposition so they can fill the Notice Paperand so that they can alarm vulnerable Australians and try to convince them that they are their ally or their friend. That's precisely what this motion is about.

We had the member for Maribyrnong and the member for Bruce come in here and clearly demonstrate to the parliament but, more critically, to the people that they have not learned the lessons of either the 2016 election or the 2019 election, rhetorically claiming all sorts of absurdities and unnecessarily alarming vulnerable Australians to whom the government is providing critical support. Frankly, that should embarrass them, because what the government have done is made sure that we have the proper support mechanisms in place to support people with a disability in getting the assistance that they need.

We now have more than 400,000 Australians on the NDIS receiving support to manage often complicated and multiple conditions, as the member for Bruce correctly outlined. In the wonderful electorate of Goldstein itself, we have 1,579 people receiving support and assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme as individuals, of course, but also through collective support groups and organisations like Marriott Support Services and Bayley House in the Goldstein electorate.

The evolution of the NDIS has been a continuum of refinement and getting the system right. When you implement one of the biggest social services programs that this country has ever seen, where we've taken responsibility, often from the states, it's important to get it right. It's critically important not just for those who need the assistance and support but also because we are the custodians of taxpayers' money. When it is given to people, we need to make sure that it's properly targeted and delivered so we get the outcomes that the individual client seeks, and it is also important that we identify any fraud, or people who would take advantage of them—because the billions of dollars that have been poured in by this government ultimately become attractive to someone who would like to take advantage of some of our most vulnerable Australians.

So credibility matters, accountability matters, having proper processes in place to be able to account for public money matters—and that's the basis on which this government implements reform. We have done it by making sure there's sufficient funding. We provided a further $3.9 billion for the NDIS after the opposition left government with all the promises but none of the funding. But we've continued to fine-tune support mechanisms so that the money is getting to the people who need it, and, importantly, to bring the NDIS into alignment with the original vision for it around individualised care and support, consistent with proposals put forward by the Productivity Commission and of course the Tune inquiry.

What the government have been doing hasn't been just by us but by agencies, particularly the National Disability Insurance Agency, in consultation and collaboration with over 40 peak health and disability bodies around the country to ensure they understand what needs to be done. We're not seeking to do anything to people with a disability; we're seeking to empower people with a disability. I note the point that the member for Higgins made, correctly—that the foundation of liberalism itself is about empowerment of individuals, and that is the basis on which we seek reform, because we want clients to get the help they need. Tragically, what the opposition is seeking to do is scare people with a disability from getting the help they need. I don't know how that could possibly make them proud. Having individualised plans that work to address the issues that people have as they continue through their life stages is critical to empowering them to live their best lives.

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