Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Stoker for her question. This is, of course, a groundbreaking reform which is improving outcomes for Australians with a significant and permanent disability, and the Turnbull government is committed to delivering for the Australian people. Every dollar and every cent this government committed to delivering the National Disability Insurance Scheme remains in place and always will.

Senator Stoker asks for an update. On 31 March this year, the NDIS quarterly report showed solid progress in line with expectations. In total, more than 160,000 Australians are now benefitting from the NDIS, and this includes more than 10,000 children who have been supported through the scheme's Early Childhood Early Intervention gateway. We're seeing benefits all around Australia. But let me take you, Senator Stoker, to Queensland. In Queensland over 14,500 people have already accessed the NDIS, and this number will increase. At the full rollout in 2020, over 95,000 people are expected to be receiving life-changing support. In an electorate like Longman, it is expected that over 4,100 Australians will receive support through the NDIS when it is rolled out. Importantly, under this government Australians can be assured that their government is absolutely committed to funding the NDIS.

Of course, that is in direct contrast to those opposite, who failed to fund the NDIS through a formal mechanism. They failed to put in place a formal mechanism that would assist Australians with a disability.