National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Improving Supports for At Risk Participants) Bill 2021

Submission 14

CHIEF MINISTER

Parliament House GPO Box 3146 State Square Darwin NT 080 l Darwin NT 0800 Telephone: 08 8936 5500 chief.minister@nt.gov.au Facsimile: 08 8936 557 6

Senator Wendy Askew Chair of Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Via email: Community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au

Dear Chair

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee in relation to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Amendment (Improving Supports for At Risk Participants) Bill 2021.

The Northern Territory has 4,133 NDIS participants with 75 per cent identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse. There are currently 278 active providers who are receiving payment for supporting Agency-managed participants.

The Northern Territory is supportive of the Bill and acknowledges that expansion of the enforcement powers of the Commissioner of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, clarification of provider registration provisions and more effective information sharing between relevant agencies will all serve to improve service delivery to NDIS participants.

The Northern Territory looks forward to further engagement with the Australian Government on strengthening the NDIS and the protections for NDIS participants, including those Territorians that are most vulnerable.

Yours Sincerely,

MICHAEL GUNNER

2 2 JUL 2021

••• NORTHERN TERRITORY .x. GOVERNMENT