Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Gallagher in their capacity as Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Let's be clear—autism is permanent and significant. The language 'mild or moderate' has no clinical definition. Previously the NDIS has stated that autistic children who fall in the level 2 or 3 categories of support when diagnosed are eligible for the scheme on the basis that they require either substantial or very substantial support. Can the minister explain what was meant by 'mild or moderate' autism and confirm whether it's the government's intention to remove children with a diagnosis level of 1 or 2 autism?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order—I think the senator said 'Senator Gallagher'. Senator Gallagher is able and happy to take it as Minister for Finance. If the question is dealing with NDIS, that would be Senator McAllister. We'd seek some clarity about who you're directing the question to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Steele-John, you did indicate it was for the minister responsible for the NDIS, and that is Minister McAllister. Are you happy for me to direct the question to her?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks very much, Senator Steele-John. I know that you know this, but there are 5½ million Australians, or in that order, with disability, and our government's intention is to ensure that all people with disability are supported to live their best lives and to meet their goals. Some of those people, as you also know, are supported by the NDIS. It is a critical, life-changing, incredibly important piece of Australia's social architecture and one that our government is very proud of. Many senators will have heard Minister Butler's speech and his remarks over the last week, where he talked about our determination to ensure that the NDIS is here for the long term to play the role that it is intended to play in supporting people with significant and permanent disability to meet their objectives.

What he also said was that we need to make sure that it is not the only source of support for people with disability. Senators will know that we have been working for some years now, with stakeholders and with states and territories, to answer the question that was put to us by the review undertaken by Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul: what should we do about the absence of supports in the broader community for people with disability who may not be appropriate candidates or suitable candidates for entering into the NDIS? That's the question the government is seeking to answer, senators, and Minister Butler made an important contribution last week about that exact issue.

We know that people with autism, autistic people, have— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Steele-John, first supplementary?

Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The NDIS provides autistic children with therapies and other supports that have transformed their lives. Their access to supports cannot go backwards because of Labor penny pinching. Minister, can you please assure people with autistic kids and autistic people across the country that they will be able to access appropriate supports, including speech pathology, occupational therapy and psychosocial therapy with no out-of-pocket costs under the new program?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Steele-John, for the supplementary question. Evidence based, best-practice early interventions can support children with autism and also children experiencing developmental delay. It can help them, their families and their carers better understand and respond to their child's needs. As the review of the NDIS indicated, it is not always the case that the best way to deliver supports of that kind is through the NDIS, through packages of individualised supports. That review pointed to the opportunities before us to find easier pathways and more appropriate pathways for families to obtain that support.

That is what this government seeks to do. It's a conversation we've been having with stakeholders. Many people contributed to the Bonyhady and Paul review. Many people have contributed to the consultation that took place last year in relation— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Steele-John, second supplementary?

Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Butler has said that after the Thriving Kids program is operational there will be access changes made to the NDIS so that children with what the government described as mild to moderate autism will no longer be accepted into the NDIS. Can the minister please confirm that there will be no changes made to eligibility for autistic adults?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Steele-John, can I apologise for running out of time on each of your previous questions. I have sought to address them comprehensively, but I've realised on each occasion I should have watched the clock more closely.

Minister Butler's speech last week laid out our priorities. They are the same priorities we agreed with states and territories some time ago. We do seek to establish a system of foundational supports outside of the NDIS, and the place we seek to start is looking for opportunities to work with children and young people. That is the work that we have set about doing. It's the work we have been seeking to progress with states and territories. That remains our priority. Minister Butler has also indicated that at some point there will need to be a further wave of reform, and we would work closely with the disability community on any such reforms.