Call for budget to support disability advocacy

People with disability are calling for more money for disability advocacy services in next week’s federal budget, citing a huge jump in appeals against NDIS decisions.

‘Appeals against adverse NDIS decisions have risen 30 per cent in the past six months, which is putting enormous strain on Australia’s publicly funded disability advocates who help people with disability navigate complex legal and regulatory systems such as the NDIS,” peak disability advocacy organisation PWDA says.

“We want to see funding for this vital service tripled to help ensure people with disability are getting the fair go they deserve.”

The group is calling for better support via the NDIS and more funding to assist people with disabilities during emergencies.

PWDA also wants a range of spending commitments across employment, financial security, health and wellbeing, housing, safety and justice, president Samantha Connor says.

“In uncertain times such as these, what we expect from our national government are measures that will protect us,” she said.

 Ms Connor says for this budget PWDA will be focussing on three other key measures. They include:

• Funding to improve emergency planning and support for people with disability. PWD says this builds on the lessons of the 2019 bushfires, the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent floods, which  highlighted how the system isn’t designed for people with disability
• A guarantee of ongoing sustainable funding for the NDIS, such as a dedicated Commonwealth fund as suggested in the 2011 Productivity Commission report
• Income support for people with disability affected by Covid, as well as measures to ensure people with disability can safely attend school, work and recreational activities.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will hand down the 2022-23 budget on March 29.

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