Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017 and 10 related bills [provisions] Submission 5
8 September 2017
Senate Standing Committee on Economics PO Box 6100 Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear Committee Secretariat,
Re: Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017
QCOSS makes this submission to urge the Federal Parliament to resolve funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) promptly.
We support the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (ADFO) and the Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA) in welcoming the Commonwealth Government’s proposed amendments to increase the Medicare Levy to fund the NDIS. This progressive approach will secure an adequate and sustainable revenue base for the NDIS without impacting low-income households.
The long term social and economic benefits of the NDIS far outweigh the costs. The NDIS is a critical investment – not only for people with a disability, but for all Australians. We therefore support the proposal to deliver funding certainty for the NDIS through an increase in the Medicare Levy. This measure provides the funding certainty which is essential to give people with a disability a guarantee that their needs will be met into the future.
We urge all members of Parliament to support this Bill.
Yours sincerely,
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Mark Henley Chief Executive Officer