Standfirst

ABC Insiders host David Speers is experienced and smart. When Jenny McAllister couldn’t tell him what would happen if Queensland refused to develop alternatives to the NDIS, he pounced.

“It's a simple position to state right now”, he insisted. “Will anyone be kicked off the scheme if those state supports aren't ready?”

McAllister prevaricated. “I'm not contemplating delay, but I will say this: we've been clear that we do think alternative supports need to be in place . . . we have time to do so.”

The back-and-forth continued, with Speers not letting the basic question go. “I'm saying, are you prepared to delay removing anyone from the scheme until they're ready?

“I think I've answered that question”, insisted McAllister. Speers tried again.

“I'm not sure if you have answered that. Is that a yes? You will delay kicking anyone off the scheme?”

“We don't need to contemplate delay at this point”, responded the Minister. Speers disagreed. “Well, you do if the States aren't on board, and Queensland's not on board.”

So what happens if Queensland doesn’t sign up? The Minister can’t afford to say people won’t be removed from the scheme, because states won’t sign on. She can’t afford to say people will be kicked off the scheme, because people will die. And she can’t afford to say nothing will happen, because the deficit will plunge into the red.

Has this all been thought through?

McAllister did say the new access process would begin in 2028, and that Thriving Kids would start on 1 October.

Queensland, of course, has not signed the Thriving Kids agreement, and arrangements for children aged nine and ten remain unfinished.

Asked repeatedly whether exits would be delayed if the alternatives were not operating, she said: “We don’t need to contemplate delay at this point.”

The ABC reported that she also rejected an NDIS inspector-general and said the government was not considering amendments proposed to protect people unable to leave hospital because supports were unavailable.