The Federal Government’s positive response to Victoria’s proposal to establish a National Disability Insurance Scheme trial in the state’s Barwon Region looks likely to result in the establishment of the trial.

 

Victoria offered an additional $42 million over the period of the trial, which Premier Ted Baillieu said would result in a substantially improved trial for the region.

 

Victoria's trial for the Barwon Region would:

  • secure a trial for 5,000 Victorian's with a disability in the Barwon Region;
  • provide an additional $17 million over the period of the trial for existing clients, matching the benchmark funding required by the Commonwealth;
  • bring forward the start of the trial to 1 July 2013, a year earlier than the Commonwealth's proposal for 1 July 2014 commencement in Barwon;
  • provide a one-off payment of $25 million to secure the establishment of the National Disability Transition Agency in Geelong, the home of Victoria's Transport Accident Commission, an acknowledged leader in social insurance schemes;
  • allow the Commonwealth to direct further funding to new clients in the Barwon Region; and
  • provide NDIS expansion funding arrangements that are consistent with the Productivity Commission's recommendations and the previous understanding of the States.The Victorian Coalition Government has been a leader and a champion of the NDIS.