Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017 and 10 related bills [provisions]
Submission 2
8 September 2017
Senate Standing Committee on Economics
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Via email: economics.sen@aph.gov.au
Dear Committee,
Re: Inquiry into Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017 and related bills
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the above inquiry.
The NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) works with and for people experiencing poverty and disadvantage to see positive change in our communities. As the peak body for health and community services in NSW we support the sector to deliver innovative services that grow and evolve as needs and circumstances evolve.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a significant and positive reform, giving people choice and control over their disability supports. It is therefore crucial that fair, robust and secure funding is provided for the NDIS through the tax system.
To this end, NCOSS supports the joint statement of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA) and the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) in relation to the need for certainty of funding for the NDIS.
We support the three broad principles outlined in the joint statement, namely that:
- The NDIS must be available to all eligible people.
- Everyone should contribute to funding this universal system according to their ability to do so.
- The NDIS needs to be funded through a progressive tax system where people with higher incomes contribute a higher share of their income, and the ability for people to avoid contributing their fair share is restricted.
If you have any questions about the points raised above, please contact redacted (Policy Officer, Disability) on redacted
Yours sincerely
redacted
Tracy Howe
Chief Executive Officer