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National Press Club address on NDIS reform and community impacts
July 22 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm UTC+10
Megan Spindler-Smith, Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia, Sophie Cusworth, Chief Executive, Women With Disabilities Australia and Dr Martin Laverty, Chief Executive, Aruma, will Address the National Press Club on “Reasonable or Necessary? Debating changes to the NDIS”.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme cost taxpayers $50 billion in 2025, and is on track by the end of the decade to cost more than Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme combined. The Albanese Government wants to change the NDIS to cut the cost of the scheme.
A contentious Bill to amend the NDIS Act has been criticised by some in the disability community as likely to cause harm to thousands of people with disability. Other disability sector leaders see NDIS cost control as essential for ongoing government and taxpayer support for the future of the NDIS. Meanwhile, State and Territory Governments have accused the Federal Government of creating false expectation the new Thriving Kids program will deliver like-for-like services to the NDIS.
Megan Spindler-Smith, Acting CEO People with Disability Australia
Megan Spindler Smith is the Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia, the national disability rights and advocacy organisation led by, and for, people with all kinds of disability.
Sophie Cusworth, Chief Executive, Women With Disabilities Australia
Sophie Cusworth is the Chief Executive Officer of Women With Disabilities Australia, the national Disabled People’s Organisation and National Women’s Alliance for women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities.
Dr Martin Laverty, Chief Executive, Aruma
Dr Martin Laverty has worked in the not-for-profit disability sector for more than thirty years. He is the Chief Executive of not-for-profit disability organisation Aruma, one of the nation’s largest NDIS providers.