Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Moore for the question and commend the work she undertook along with Senator McLucas. There is no more noble a task for government than giving people with a disability and their families and carers an opportunity to have a better life.

We have delivered $1 billion in new funding for the first stage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Now that the legislation has passed, we will be launching the scheme in five sites across the country from the middle of this year. The government is hiring staff and building offices in the launch sites. About 26,000 people with a disability will benefit from this first stage—people in the Hunter in New South Wales, Geelong, South Australia, Tasmania and, from the middle of next year, across the Australian Capital Territory. About 140,000 people with a disability will benefit from a complete rollout of the scheme across New South Wales by July 2018.

We are establishing the National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency as an independent statutory body. The National Disability Insurance Scheme will transform the lives of people with disabilities, their families and their carers. For the first time they will have their needs met in a way that truly supports them to live with choice and dignity. This is an achievement to be very proud of, and it is something that, I trust, enjoys the full support of this parliament. I trust that that is actually demonstrated as the scheme is developed.