ACOSS Statement on linking Omnibus Bill cuts to NDIS

13 February 2017

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said:

“ACOSS strongly rejects the linking of social security cuts with the funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“This  is policy making on the run  that would cut the incomes of more than two million people, including Disability Support Pensioners who would lose the $7 per week Energy Supplement.

“This measure is robbing Peter to pay Paul and pitting the two against each other in an unfair way.

“We need a properly funded NDIS, but that must not be at the expense of cutting incomes of the poorest people in our country.

“It is particularly egregious to be linking cuts to income support to the funding of the NDIS when the Government is trying to push through $50 billion in tax cuts.”