Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Patrick for his question and his comments and also for his support for the NDIS and the safeguarding framework. In relation to the particular point that you raise, it is something that has been raised frequently with me as the minister. There is currently a pricing review underway by the NDIS to have a look at the whole pricing structure and rates for the NDIS. The government, in the last budget, is also having a look at how we better integrate the workforces themselves between disability, veterans and aged care. One of the things that I, Minister Hunt and Minister Gee are very conscious of is that we do pay the same providers very different rates for similar services. I think we absolutely need to improve that so that we move towards a single rate that not only doesn't actually inflate the cost of participants' services but also doesn't inadvertently push people, such as veterans, out of the market, which has been reported to be the case.