Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

As Senator Steele-John and others have said in this debate, the Australian Greens have significant concerns around this legislation, and that is for a range of reasons. It's important that people understand how we came to arrive at this juncture in regard to how the NDIS works and what the government is trying to do here to the NDIS.

This was legislation that was developed in secret. There was no exposure draft published for this legislation. Disability groups that wanted to engage with the government were forced to sign NDAs, non-disclosure agreements. That is not the way a government that is acting in good faith would conduct itself. Of course, the conclusion there is that this is not a government that is acting in good faith, this is not a piece of legislation that was drafted in good faith and this was not a policy framework that was established in good faith. Why wasn't it established in good faith? For the very simple reason that the government is trying to cut over $14 billion out of the NDIS.

We can talk about numbers all we like, but what does this actually mean for the people who the NDIS was originally designed to support—disabled people in this country? What it means for them is a loss of vital supports. This's what we are dealing with here. We are dealing with a government that has come in to cut the NDIS and to remove those vital supports that are so incredibly important for so many disabled people in this country to allow them to live a dignified life, to allow them to lead a life that many of us able-bodied people and able people take for granted.

I know I've been guilty in the past of taking my ability and the fact that I don't have a disability for granted. I don't reflect on it often enough. I have to say that it's the friendship I've developed with Senator Steele-John in the time he's been in this chamber that's actually forced me—and I thank Senator Steele-John for helping me to understand this—to reflect on my privilege. In doing that, I was determined to be a better ally for disabled people in this country, and I rise here today as a declared ally to disabled people. I say to disabled people: you are not alone in your struggles. You have a champion in this place in Senator Steele-John, but he is not alone in championing your rights, and he won't be alone into the future in championing your rights. I will do everything I can to champion the rights of disabled people in Australia and to oppose legislation that removes critical supports from disabled people. Much-needed therapies that help them in their day-to-day lives are under threat because of this legislation.

We know that the states oppose this legislation, and they are doing so for a lot of the very same reasons that the Australian Greens have expressed our concerns about this legislation. We need to make sure that we understand comprehensively what the amendments to this legislation actually will mean and, in particular, what they will mean for disabled people in Australia.

To that end, I move the amendment on sheet 2688 circulated in my name on behalf of the Australian Greens, which is an amendment to the second reading amendment moved by the opposition:

Omit all words and substitute:

"Omit all words after "That", substitute "the bill be referred to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for further inquiry, including examining any circulated amendments to the bill and the positions of state and territory governments, and report by 5 August 2024".

It is absolutely critical that we come to grips in detail with the views of state and territory governments. It is absolutely critical that we come to grips with any circulated amendments to this bill, because this bill, these amendments and the positions of state and territory governments do not exist in a vacuum; these are matters that pertain deeply and directly to the lived experience of massive numbers of disabled people in Australia—660,000 disabled people in this country. For them the Australian Greens move this amendment. For them and to them we say: you are not alone in your struggles. To them we say: we will not rest until your rights are respected and you have the vital supports that you need to support you through your lives. Those of us that are lucky enough and privileged enough not to be disabled should join together and say to the disabled people in this country: we will not let you down. Today, in moving this amendment, the Australian Greens are making it very clear: we will not let you down.