Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Senator Ruston. Can the minister confirm that, because of the government's delays, staffing caps and the lack of services, more than 77,000 Australians with disability are missing out on the NDIS?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I cannot confirm that's the case.

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bilyk, a supplementary question?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, it would be nice if the minister knew her job. Yesterday the minister said:

… this is a demand driven system. That means that people who wish to access the system do so at their demand.

I refer to the case of Ms Shannon Manning from Queensland, whose profoundly disabled daughter, Meadow, has been waiting more than a year to get a wheelchair and hoist. Is this what you mean by 'demand driven system'?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Bilyk, for your follow-up question. As Senator Bilyk would be well aware, it would be completely inappropriate for any of us to come into this place and start to debate the individual, personal and complex situations of an individual person's disability plan. However, I know that the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, in the other place, on frequent occasions has offered those opposite, and those opposite in the other place, a briefing on any of these issues in relation to individual cases, because he believes it is appropriate to discuss them behind the scenes. But, as I said yesterday, this is a demand driven scheme, and we will continue, like we do with many other demand driven schemes, to make sure it continues to be funded.

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, on a point of order?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance. We're seeking an explanation of the minister's comment yesterday that 'this is a demand driven system'. She has not addressed that. We have given an example and we would like her to explain whether this is what she means by 'a demand driven system'.

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, Senator Watt, you had a quotation from the minister and there was an individual case claimed and mentioned. I think the minister is being directly relevant to the question in speaking to that question—first, about an approach to dealing with an initial case, and I heard her talking about the phrase you mentioned. Senator Ruston.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, we are not going to come into this place and discuss individual cases. It would be inappropriate and disrespectful to the individual concerned.

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pratt, on a point of order?

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! Can I hear the point of order?

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has not claimed public interest immunity as a grounds for not answering this question. You can't automatically just say you don't want to answer it because you're talking about someone's specific personal circumstances, unless you're seeking to use that as grounds for public interest immunity.

Scott Ryan (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pratt, I'll say—at least in my length of time here, which has matched yours—that it is common for ministers to say they are not dealing with individual circumstances of government programs. I believe that is consistent. There is a different process with documents being demanded in Senate estimates. On this point, I think the minister is being directly relevant and I'm not of the view she needs to make such a claim to answer the question in this fashion. Senator Bilyk, a final supplementary question?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My second supplementary: we'll see if we can get a proper answer. The defining feature of the 2018-19 final budget outcome is the Morrison government's $4.6 billion underspend on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Why is the Morrison government propping up its budget by denying Australians with a disability the care they need, deserve and were promised?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

We are not.