Labor Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese has welcomed the announcement that the Gillard Labor Government will start work immediately with states and territories on measures that will build the foundations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme.
"The Government asked the Productivity Commission to examine reform of disability support services because we believe that the system we have today is not delivering the kind of care and support Australians expect for people with disability," said Mr Albanese.
The main recommendations of the Productivity Commission's report were:
A National Disability Insurance Scheme should be created to provide all Australians with insurance for the costs of support if they or a family member acquire a disability. The scheme will provide individually tailored care and support to around 410 000 people with significant disabilities.
A National Injury Insurance Scheme should be created to provide no fault insurance for anyone who suffers a catastrophic injury.
Mr Albanese said the proposal was an important progressive step that would take away the lottery of how people's care needs would be funded.
"Care and support should be based on people’s needs, not on whether they can find someone else to blame for their injury or disability," said Mr Albanese.
"That’s why the Gillard Labor Government is pushing for this important reform."
For a copy of the Productivity Commission report visit http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/report .