Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Steele-John just raised an excellent point, and I really think we need to clarify this, because this is quite astounding. The question that Senator Steele-John asked was whether participants were going to be required to fund their own needs assessments. The fact that the government cannot just say no is extraordinary. The fact that there is any suggestion that participants, who aren't that enamoured of the whole needs assessment process, may be forced to pay for a needs assessment when they don't even understand what's in the needs assessment is breathtaking. The fact that that is not an out-and-out no is extraordinary. So, Minister, perhaps you or someone that you're speaking to might get onto the minister's office and find out very, very quickly if there is any expectation at all that participants will be put in a situation where they are forced to pay for a needs assessment that they are required to have in order to access an NDIS plan.