Minister Downplays Proportion of Sex Offenders Among NDIS Recipients as ‘Tiny’
Bill Shorten, the minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), emphasized the importance of providing disability supports for individuals, including a small group who have been incarcerated. He defended the agency’s funding despite reports of high-risk offenders benefiting from the scheme.
Shorten stated that there is an obligation to offer disability assistance to those in need, even if they have a criminal history. He acknowledged that while the majority of NDIS recipients are not sex offenders, some individuals coming out of jail require support services.
The NDIS aims to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities through various services like education, employment, and housing.
Serious Sex Offenders Receive Substantial NDIS Grants
Recent media coverage revealed that the NDIS granted significant support packages to repeat sexual offenders, including rapists and paedophiles post-release.
For instance, a convicted Victorian man received $1.4 million for supervised accommodation after committing several crimes. Another case involved a pedophile eligible for $500,000 in funding due to diagnosed disorders.
The NDIS has faced criticism for allocating funds to individuals with criminal backgrounds, but Shorten defended the agency’s focus on supporting those with severe disabilities.
Minister Addresses Funding Controversy
Shorten downplayed the issue of criminals receiving NDIS funding, stating that extreme examples should not overshadow the overall purpose of the scheme. He clarified that states are responsible for managing criminal justice systems, while the NDIS caters to individuals with profound disabilities.
He reiterated the importance of upholding the NDIS for eligible participants and emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring funds are allocated appropriately.
In response to concerns raised about fraud, the government allocated additional funding to strengthen fraud detection within the NDIS.
