Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'll take the interjection by the member opposite that we've already got an inquiry. I think Australians are seeing. They're waking up to what this government's doing. They're waking up to the fact that it's asleep at the wheel while Australian taxpayers are footing the bill, something that those opposite care absolutely nothing about. What is happening is that the people who really need the NDIS support are not getting it. And that's the problem.

I think there's no-one in this Chamber who would object to people who have a genuine need, and I've met many of these in my electorate as well. There are people who have a genuine need and who have suffered a disadvantage, through no fault of their own, using the NDIS. We have absolutely no concern as to them being afforded the respect, the dignity and the support that they need. However, what we should never stand for in this place is the fact that the system is being abused. We've got evidence that that is the case, and every single member of this parliament was sent details of that earlier in the year. Every single member of parliament should be aware of that. And, where we see examples of that being abused, somebody needs to stand up and say something about it because the Australian taxpayer deserves nothing less. And it's not just the Australian taxpayer; it is also every single one of those men, women and children that I and members across this Chamber speak to who actually rely on the NDIS because of genuine need. That is something that this government should hang their heads in shame about, because we're seeing a system—and it goes to the heart of this motion—that doesn't have integrity. And if the public doesn't have confidence in this system, buy-in is very, very hard. I say to the government: Australians are waking up. Do something now. Restore integrity to the NDIS because, frankly, the Australian taxpayer deserves better.

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