NDIS minister Mark Butler says Queensland is losing valuable implementation time by refusing to sign up to Thriving Kids. But Ros Bates, the acting state minister for disability, replied with both barrels.
Federal health and NDIS minister Mark Butler has criticised Queensland for remaining the only jurisdiction yet to sign up to Thriving Kids, just a week before the first phase of the new program begins.
Mr Butler said every other state and territory had signed on and was developing its program, while Queensland continued to hold out.
“Obviously, I’m a little frustrated they haven’t signed because all other states and territories, Liberal and Labor alike, CLP government and the NT has signed on,” he told the ABC.
“They’re just getting on with the business of developing their programs, and we’re losing time, frankly, for Queensland parents and children.”
Queensland’s acting minister for disability, Ros Bates, was having none of Mr Butler’s criticism, however.
“Mark Butler knows full well that the deal that they are trying to give Queensland is substandard,” she fired back during a press conference.
“If he’s not going to fund it for those people [children under nine with low-to-moderate needs] in the interim after 1 October, then that’s his problem. He’s going to have to explain that to those families.”
Thriving Kids will provide supports outside the NDIS for children aged under nine with developmental delay and/or autism with low-to-moderate support needs.
The $4 billion program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and states and territories, with the first services due to commence from 1 October and progressively expand ahead of full implementation from 1 January 2028.
But even before the Thriving Kids rollout begins, Mr Butler revealed officials had started discussions with states on developing foundational supports for other groups who may not be eligible for the NDIS.
“We’ve got to develop foundational supports programs for children over the age of nine and for adult cohorts who might not end up being on the NDIS,” he said. “For example, adults with psychosocial disability.”
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Mr Butler also accused Queensland of failing to implement commitments made by premier David Crisafulli through National Cabinet earlier this year.
“I can’t imagine a Queensland government that, for the next 15 months, would sit on its hands and pretend it does not have a very serious obligation to follow the rest of the country, and to frankly implement commitments that the premier made at the national cabinet meeting earlier this year to do this,” he said.
Queensland has raised concerns about the long-term funding of services outside the NDIS and the risk of vulnerable people falling through gaps between systems.
The state has yet to sign its agreement to deliver Thriving Kids.
“We’re asking for detail on behalf of Queensland families — details like, will us signing up to this put more pressure on our schools and on our hospitals?” said Ms Bates.
“It’s not much to ask for more detail, and I think Queensland taxpayers would expect that we do that.
“Now, because of the federal government’s mismanagement, they are trying to make Queensland governments and other governments across the country pay for their ineptitude.
“We’re not being belligerent. All we want is details.”