NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME —
TRANSITION
686. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to the tragic life and
death of Ann Marie Smith and to the delay in Western Australia's
transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards
Commission.
(1) Does the McGowan government
intend to introduce a disability worker registration scheme?
(2) If yes to
(1), would the minister please provide some information on any proposed scheme,
including anticipated time frames?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
I am deeply saddened by the tragic
death of Ann Marie Smith and support the criminal investigation into the circumstances of her death. Ms Smith's
death in South Australia, however, cannot be associated with the decision to
defer Western Australia's transition
to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission
until 1 December this year. The WA disability sector overwhelmingly requested a
six-month deferral to allow it to focus on
critical support issues for people with disability during COVID-19 recovery. In
the interim, the complaints investigation and resolution area of the
Health and Disability Services Complaints Office will be allocated more
resources, and the existing quality and safeguarding functions performed by the
Department of Communities will continue.
(1) As per the
intergovernmental agreement with the commonwealth government, the McGowan
government is committed to safeguarding people with disability through the
implementation of National Disability Insurance Scheme worker screening.
(2) NDIS worker
screening will require people who provide NDIS supports and services through a registered
NDIS provider to undergo a worker screening check. All states and territories,
including the WA state government, are currently working with the commonwealth
government on the introduction of nationally consistent worker screening in
early 2021.
(3) Not applicable.