Newman's NDIS intentions welcomed in Canberra - ABC Online

By Louise Yaxley

Updated May 06, 2013 16:31:34

Federal Disability Reform Minister Jenny Macklin says she will keep urging Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to join DisabilityCare.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says he is close to signing up to the national scheme.

Ms Macklin has welcomed his comment, and has given an assurance that the scheme will not be centralised.

"In the delivery of the launch sites we'll have offices in Geelong, in Newcastle, in Launceston and Hobart and Devonport," she said.

"We do understand how important it is for people with disability to have services in the communities where they live."

New South Wales, South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania have also signed up to the full roll-out.

• The scheme will support more than 400,000 Australians with a disability, their families and carers


• It will help pay for carers, to give parents of children with a disability a break


• It will help pay for new wheelchairs tailored to individual needs


• It will fund home modifications to help people with a disability move around easier


• It will fund early intervention services children, like physiotherapy and speech pathology


• The increase in the levy equates to an extra dollar a day for an average income earner


• The change would collect $20 billion its first five years

Topics: federal---state-issues, disabilities, brisbane-4000, canberra-2600

First posted May 06, 2013 16:21:50