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Advocates appalled as NDIA CEO confirms NDIS participants’ removal after criticising the scheme.
Many in the disability community have expressed outraged following reports of the National Disability Insurance Agency removing a person with disability from the National Disability Insurance Scheme in apparent retaliation for criticising the Scheme on social media.
Early this week, representatives from 12 Disability Representative Organisations (DRO) contacted the Acting CEO of the NDIA seeking urgent clarification over the allegations published in The Saturday Paper.
In a statement released on their website, People with Disability Australia (PWDA), the national peak body for disability advocacy, confirmed NDIA’s actions. The statement goes on to claim that NDIA’s response asserted the legality and alignment of all actions with the NDIS Act, rather than provide quality answers.
We have grave concerns that they confirmed an eligibility reassessment had been in part triggered by the individual’s social media content
DROs believe these actions have crossed a line and threaten the level of trust between the NDIA and the disability community.
“Advice, opinions about, or criticisms of the NDIS or NDIA are entirely separate from an individual's eligibility for the Scheme and vital need for supports, both in the law and the intent of the Scheme.”
According to the statement, Disability Representative Organisations are demanding an immediate, independent inquiry into the actions of this case, and potentially others, where the Agency has acted to remove people with disability from the NDIS without due process or fair treatment.
“Hold an urgent roundtable between Disability Representative Organisations, the NDIA Acting CEO and senior staff, and NDIS Minister McAllister to discuss a way forward,” the statement urges.
The DROs go on to argue that the inquiry should be conducted by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, in consultation with the Disability Discrimination Commissioner, and be open to additional contributions from people with disability as well as disability advocacy organisations.