Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Disability Reform, Senator Evans. Why has the government allocated $1 billion for a National Disability Insurance Scheme over the next four years when the Productivity Commission recommended $4 billion?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand the question to be: why did we not spend more money on the disability reform?

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Given, again, the Howard government's record on this, it is a bit rich. I am very pleased to say that the budget included a strong commitment to the new National Disability Insurance Scheme, that we made a decision to bring forward the commencement of that scheme by a year, that the government allocated a very substantial investment in the commencement of that program.

Government senators interjecting—

It has been very well received by the disability sector and the community more broadly. It has been recognised that the government has made a very serious attempt to deal with this long-standing neglect in the Australian community and the absence of appropriate support for people with a disability and their families and carers. We were hoping to have a bipartisan approach to this—

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Just wait a minute, Senator Evans. I am endeavouring to listen to your answer but there are people distracting on my right. Senator Evans, continue.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is the case that it always falls to Labor to do the big social reforms and, just like we did with Medicare, this government is absolutely committed to driving the NDIS—

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. My question to the minister was: why, when the Productivity Commission recommended an allocation of $4 billion over the next four years, has the government committed $1 billion? The minister has not come close to answering that question.

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There is no point of order at this stage. The minister still has 32 seconds. I am listening, when I am given the opportunity, as closely to the answer as I can—with the interference that is coming from certain people on my right, which is not appreciated.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not think anyone other than Senator Fifield has not acknowledged the serious commitment to reform the government has made to reform in this area. One billion dollars in this budget, at a time of a tight economic situation, is a very major achievement by the minister to make sure this is a priority for the government. And I point out that we have not followed exactly the Productivity Commission recommendations; one of the things we have done is bring it forward. We have actually begun the scheme a year early— (Time expired)

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. How does the government intend to reach the Productivity Commission's goal of a NDIS that will cover 400,000 people by 2018-19 when it has only allocated funding for 20,000 people up to 2015-16?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I have indicated, the government has made a very significant start in implementing the Productivity Commission's broad report arguing for a National Disability Insurance Scheme. We put $1 billion into the budget—this is a huge commitment—and we have laid out a road map for the way forward.

I point out to Senator Fifield that, as I understand it, the Liberal Party's position is to set up a committee to look at this issue. But, if they are serious about it, no doubt we will see in the budget reply speech tonight a $4 billion commitment. No doubt tonight, in the budget reply, we will see the commitment from the Liberal Party to fully fund the recommendations of the Productivity Commission. Senator Fifield, I look forward to that commitment in the budget reply speech, and I look forward to discussing this matter with you further in the light of that speech. (Time expired)

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Aren't Australians with disability and their families entitled to feel short changed by a Prime Minister who talked big about a NDIS but has allocated only a fraction of the money recommended by the Productivity Commission? Isn't it true that the government's annual $8 billion debt interest bill is compromising its capacity to honour its pledge?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It disappoints me that the Liberal Party want to play politics with this, but I will remind them that, in 12 years of government, they did nothing for people with disabilities—nothing! And they will do nothing tonight in the budget reply, I am sure. But, if there is $4 billion allocated, that will add to the $70 billion black hole they already have. People with a disability know the Liberal Party will do nothing to support this scheme; they also know that, to fund the $70 billion black hole that the Liberal Party has in its costings, it will have to cut health, it will have to cut education and it will have to cut support for people with disabilities. They know what your priorities are. They know that, without the mining tax and the other savings you will have to make, that sort of support will never come under a Liberal Party government. We have made a strong commitment, and the people I talk to are very grateful for that.

An opposition senator: You can stop it there, Chris.

Mr President, I can either allow another Dorothy Dixer from Senator Ludwig or I can ask that further questions be taken on notice: I am open to the view of the chamber.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper!