Well, the federal budget has been handed down. Let's speak about it, particularly as far as people with disabilities go and catch up with the Human Services Minister here in South Australia, Nat Cooke. Always good to chat, Ned. How are you, Peter? I'm going especially well, not straight from the top. If anyone is on the NDIS right now, should they be worried? Could they be taken off the plan or could their funding be reduced? Well, I.

Well, the federal budget has been handed down. Let's speak about it, particularly as far as people with disabilities go and catch up with the Human Services Minister here in South Australia, Nat Cooke. Always good to chat, Ned. How are you, Peter? I'm going especially well, not straight from the top. If anyone is on the NDIS right now, should they be worried? Could they be taken off the plan or could their funding be reduced? Well, I.

Don't believe that that's the ambition of Bill Shorten and the Federal Government at all. I do think that over the last well, it's 12 months, almost to the day yesterday, the day before thereabouts that the Albanese government took office. And all I have heard since that time and I believe we may have had six National Disability Reform Council meetings since then, which as you would be aware, that's, that's probably close to how many some total there happened over the four years before. All I've heard is let's make sure this is a better NDIS, doing better things for the right people in the right way, in a timely fashion, in a way where people don't have to fight for it the way it was intended. So I don't feel at all that that's the case. What I do know is that the Federal Government have sent a strong message that they need to be responsible in terms of watching and monitoring growth of the NDIS. And under some current practices, the growth is very, very steep and we want to make sure that the people who need the services from the NDIS can always get them. I mean, you know, Australians I think have wholeheartedly supported the concept of the NDIS and the rollout of the NDIS is partly what has been problematic in some ways. But if I'm fair minded about it, a reform piece as complicated and as complex as the NDIS was always going to be very difficult to roll out. But the NDIS we know is absolutely life changing for people. So that transformative, life changing NDIS is really what represents to all of us. What is the best thing about Australia that, you know, we want to make sure we all looked after, that everybody has as fair and equal opportunity as each other, and that those people who need more support are able to get it. And that's why the NDIS came in to start with because people were missing out. But what we do see often is that even now, with the billions of dollars of additional money going into, you know, highly skilled, expert and technical sort of interventions and supports, people are still missing out if they don't have a strong voice. So I know Mr. Shorten does not want to say that and I don't feel that in any way, shape or form we want to put the NDIS at risk in the future. So I've seen, you know, some of the key parts of the budget and I don't think that is the overarching message.

Don't believe that that's the ambition of Bill Shorten and the Federal Government at all. I do think that over the last well, it's 12 months, almost to the day yesterday, the day before thereabouts that the Albanese government took office. And all I have heard since that time and I believe we may have had six National Disability Reform Council meetings since then, which as you would be aware, that's, that's probably close to how many some total there happened over the four years before. All I've heard is let's make sure this is a better NDIS, doing better things for the right people in the right way, in a timely fashion, in a way where people don't have to fight for it the way it was intended. So I don't feel at all that that's the case. What I do know is that the Federal Government have sent a strong message that they need to be responsible in terms of watching and monitoring growth of the NDIS. And under some current practices, the growth is very, very steep and we want to make sure that the people who need the services from the NDIS can always get them. I mean, you know, Australians I think have wholeheartedly supported the concept of the NDIS and the rollout of the NDIS is partly what has been problematic in some ways. But if I'm fair minded about it, a reform piece as complicated and as complex as the NDIS was always going to be very difficult to roll out. But the NDIS we know is absolutely life changing for people. So that transformative, life changing NDIS is really what represents to all of us. What is the best thing about Australia that, you know, we want to make sure we all looked after, that everybody has as fair and equal opportunity as each other, and that those people who need more support are able to get it. And that's why the NDIS came in to start with because people were missing out. But what we do see often is that even now, with the billions of dollars of additional money going into, you know, highly skilled, expert and technical sort of interventions and supports, people are still missing out if they don't have a strong voice. So I know Mr. Shorten does not want to say that and I don't feel that in any way, shape or form we want to put the NDIS at risk in the future. So I've seen, you know, some of the key parts of the budget and I don't think that is the overarching message.

How much do you think if better people or people are trained better as far as handling the NDIS goes, people working in the area and the NDIA, How much better do you think if it would work if those people were better trained because there's going to be more staff and there's going to be more training of staff. Do you think that's going to help fix the problem?

How much do you think if better people or people are trained better as far as handling the NDIS goes, people working in the area and the NDIA, How much better do you think if it would work if those people were better trained because there's going to be more staff and there's going to be more training of staff. Do you think that's going to help fix the problem?

I think if we look at this like any other service sector, if you provide good paying, secure jobs for people who are well supported and well prepared, you get better service delivery now. I think that goes for retail building and construction. Education certainly goes for all of the social service sector targets that we are delivering on around. From my point of view, Human services and housing and homelessness services, community centres, early intervention, children's services, all of those things. If you pay people good paying, permanent secure jobs that they are well prepared for, they will deliver. Disability is absolutely no different. And in fact, given the complex nature of many of the clients in terms. Of their capacity to self-advocate their capacity or lack of with that and communicate. This actually needs to be a higher priority. So training, skills, workforce development, all of those things absolutely front of mind and not only for workers supporting people, but for people on the scheme or people who aren't on the scheme but have a form of disability that need employment. So I think the Federal Government sent a really strong message that it knows and recognizes that they need to invest in and shift the narrative around disability employment opportunities, disability employment supports and also disability cohorts and their education, including tertiary education and how do we support people with disability to get higher qualifications to do better work to attain long term careers that pay well and provide opportunity? Now, I think the federal government is doing a lot in that regard and that's under Mr. Shorten and of course locally here many would know Minister Rishworth and we are lockstep with them in terms of that end of the NDIS. I think a lot of people focus on that service delivery part. Peter, you know, the, you know, support work, personal care equipment, a bit of the technology side of it that helps people to be more independent. But if we reflect back on where we want and identified a need for in the NDIS, it was that longer term capacity building and future proofing for people with disability who are entitled to as much as anyone to get the right opportunities for earning and learning and capacity building.

I think if we look at this like any other service sector, if you provide good paying, secure jobs for people who are well supported and well prepared, you get better service delivery now. I think that goes for retail building and construction. Education certainly goes for all of the social service sector targets that we are delivering on around. From my point of view, Human services and housing and homelessness services, community centres, early intervention, children's services, all of those things. If you pay people good paying, permanent secure jobs that they are well prepared for, they will deliver. Disability is absolutely no different. And in fact, given the complex nature of many of the clients in terms. Of their capacity to self-advocate their capacity or lack of with that and communicate. This actually needs to be a higher priority. So training, skills, workforce development, all of those things absolutely front of mind and not only for workers supporting people, but for people on the scheme or people who aren't on the scheme but have a form of disability that need employment. So I think the Federal Government sent a really strong message that it knows and recognizes that they need to invest in and shift the narrative around disability employment opportunities, disability employment supports and also disability cohorts and their education, including tertiary education and how do we support people with disability to get higher qualifications to do better work to attain long term careers that pay well and provide opportunity? Now, I think the federal government is doing a lot in that regard and that's under Mr. Shorten and of course locally here many would know Minister Rishworth and we are lockstep with them in terms of that end of the NDIS. I think a lot of people focus on that service delivery part. Peter, you know, the, you know, support work, personal care equipment, a bit of the technology side of it that helps people to be more independent. But if we reflect back on where we want and identified a need for in the NDIS, it was that longer term capacity building and future proofing for people with disability who are entitled to as much as anyone to get the right opportunities for earning and learning and capacity building.

Well, they pay taxes, which comes back to the government. Not so. We spoke to Mr. Shorten before the election. He was hot on the fact that there was a lot of money being spent on legal fees, fighting people who were fighting the the NDIS, if you like, the tribunal, etcetera. Do you know if that's improved in terms of less money being spent in that area?

Well, they pay taxes, which comes back to the government. Not so. We spoke to Mr. Shorten before the election. He was hot on the fact that there was a lot of money being spent on legal fees, fighting people who were fighting the the NDIS, if you like, the tribunal, etcetera. Do you know if that's improved in terms of less money being spent in that area?

Yeah. So I don't know the dollar value, Peter, but I think the last number I saw was that there was 30% or less cases going to the appeals tribunal. So that's 30% less people being dragged in front of a range of silks getting questioned. I only last week talk to a family will describe that as a family that have had to appeal and appeal a plan situation. So they did it first by themselves through their provider. Then they've gone through a local member of Parliament to seek some help. Then they've ended up and this you can imagine this doesn't you know, this isn't a three week program, Peter. This is a years long program of torture for people who are having to end up then going to the appeals tribunal, then standing up in front of not one, but about 4 or 5 legal professionals to stake their claim for something, which is just partly this particular case was ostensibly what I'd describe as just some kind of decency and human rights. And eventually, after all of this, carry on with one of the family members becoming unwell through the process because of stress, they won their case. Now, that would have cost. I have I don't even want to think about it. Hundreds of thousands of dollars just for that particular case. Like it could have gone into the millions. Who knows? You know, legal cases, as you know, Peter, are very expensive. But that's one that just person came up to me just at a totally unrelated event, just to say, you know, thanks and pass on our thanks to Bill for the, you know, the narrative around getting these appeals out of the courts. This is ridiculous. This is what happened to us. You know, it just beggars belief that people are just not able to be on the receiving end of the guarantee of a good government, making sure that people with disability are supported with what they need, are supported to make their own decisions and are just able to access these. You know, it's ridiculous. So throwing good money after bad is something that has to stop.

Yeah. So I don't know the dollar value, Peter, but I think the last number I saw was that there was 30% or less cases going to the appeals tribunal. So that's 30% less people being dragged in front of a range of silks getting questioned. I only last week talk to a family will describe that as a family that have had to appeal and appeal a plan situation. So they did it first by themselves through their provider. Then they've gone through a local member of Parliament to seek some help. Then they've ended up and this you can imagine this doesn't you know, this isn't a three week program, Peter. This is a years long program of torture for people who are having to end up then going to the appeals tribunal, then standing up in front of not one, but about 4 or 5 legal professionals to stake their claim for something, which is just partly this particular case was ostensibly what I'd describe as just some kind of decency and human rights. And eventually, after all of this, carry on with one of the family members becoming unwell through the process because of stress, they won their case. Now, that would have cost. I have I don't even want to think about it. Hundreds of thousands of dollars just for that particular case. Like it could have gone into the millions. Who knows? You know, legal cases, as you know, Peter, are very expensive. But that's one that just person came up to me just at a totally unrelated event, just to say, you know, thanks and pass on our thanks to Bill for the, you know, the narrative around getting these appeals out of the courts. This is ridiculous. This is what happened to us. You know, it just beggars belief that people are just not able to be on the receiving end of the guarantee of a good government, making sure that people with disability are supported with what they need, are supported to make their own decisions and are just able to access these. You know, it's ridiculous. So throwing good money after bad is something that has to stop.

All the mainland states now have a Labour government. Do you think that the states and the territories can work better with the federal government in this area? I mean, it's not just the NDIS, not everyone that has. Disabilities is is on the NDIS. So do you think the states and territories can do more to help those who aren't on it to, you know, have a better life as well?

All the mainland states now have a Labour government. Do you think that the states and the territories can work better with the federal government in this area? I mean, it's not just the NDIS, not everyone that has. Disabilities is is on the NDIS. So do you think the states and territories can do more to help those who aren't on it to, you know, have a better life as well?

I think there's a number of ways to look at it. You know, of course, the hyperpartisan, yeah, for me, I'm very happy. I can just pick up the phone and speak to Minister Shorten. However, you know, I'd have to say, even like when I was in opposition, I managed to access Minister Reynolds office, for example, fairly easily when I needed to on a couple of issues. And I found the responsiveness and the receptiveness of the staff and the minister, you know, to be more than acceptable, but not as easy as it is now. I think, you know, we certainly as a team across the nation will be making sure that Minister Shorten and Minister Rishworth don't take, you know, take us for granted. I think we have to still make sure we speak up strongly and clearly articulate the the needs of our communities. And the good thing that I can say to people is they listen and they're responsive and they're proactive. And I found them incredibly honest and transparent in how we've had our discussions. And we're working on some really terrific things, I think, to build that end of the NDIS where people have got longer term opportunity, you know, around housing and employment, education, all of those, you know, family capacity building things which are just so, so important. And I think some of those signals have really been sent through, you know, some of the areas of the budget that are being invested in. And look, you know, we could talk the numbers, Peter, but I think, you know, your listeners are pretty adept at, you know, looking up all the detail. I just think also people are quite vulnerable to mixed messaging. So I would advise people, you know, to really go to some factual sources when they're looking for details. So encourage people to get the right information from the right people, so to speak.

I think there's a number of ways to look at it. You know, of course, the hyperpartisan, yeah, for me, I'm very happy. I can just pick up the phone and speak to Minister Shorten. However, you know, I'd have to say, even like when I was in opposition, I managed to access Minister Reynolds office, for example, fairly easily when I needed to on a couple of issues. And I found the responsiveness and the receptiveness of the staff and the minister, you know, to be more than acceptable, but not as easy as it is now. I think, you know, we certainly as a team across the nation will be making sure that Minister Shorten and Minister Rishworth don't take, you know, take us for granted. I think we have to still make sure we speak up strongly and clearly articulate the the needs of our communities. And the good thing that I can say to people is they listen and they're responsive and they're proactive. And I found them incredibly honest and transparent in how we've had our discussions. And we're working on some really terrific things, I think, to build that end of the NDIS where people have got longer term opportunity, you know, around housing and employment, education, all of those, you know, family capacity building things which are just so, so important. And I think some of those signals have really been sent through, you know, some of the areas of the budget that are being invested in. And look, you know, we could talk the numbers, Peter, but I think, you know, your listeners are pretty adept at, you know, looking up all the detail. I just think also people are quite vulnerable to mixed messaging. So I would advise people, you know, to really go to some factual sources when they're looking for details. So encourage people to get the right information from the right people, so to speak.

What do you think the states might be called upon to do more in this area? You know, when the NDIS came in, maybe the stats kind of said beauty, we don't have to be involved much anymore. It's all the federal government. Do you think the states may be shirk the responsibility a bit now and now it may be coming back to roost?

What do you think the states might be called upon to do more in this area? You know, when the NDIS came in, maybe the stats kind of said beauty, we don't have to be involved much anymore. It's all the federal government. Do you think the states may be shirk the responsibility a bit now and now it may be coming back to roost?

Oh, look, I think I've you know, look, I've got, you know, quotes out in the public sphere that, you know, I said quite plainly when I was in opposition that I felt that the government at that point, the state government really did want to say, hey, this is not our thing now. This is up to the feds. You know, the NDIS is a federal issue, but as we know, a 20 or so percent of the population live with disability of some description. I know in our public and social housing system thereabouts, half of our residents clients have got a deep connection to or actual lived experience with disability and I thought the previous government really sort of did, you know, we've cashed out, that's it, you know, and the percentage of people on the NDIS compared to disability is small. So we have got an absolute commitment and and I think we as a Labour Opposition to government have made some very strong statements around our commitments. We've acknowledged that autism is one of the biggest diagnostic, if not the biggest diagnostic. I think it is group in the NDIS, particularly children. And we have said, well I think we need to pull this together, we need to invest in that, particularly in our schools and our community. And we have got our Assistant Minister for Autism, Emily Bourke. We've got our Ministerial Disability Advisory Committee who certainly has got lived experience of autism within it. We've got autism strategy groups now being led by the Assistant Minister with our support. We've got lead teachers happening in our primary schools. All of that stuff is getting rolled out. We've got the Office for Autism, which has now got two appointments made. If I'm right now, is it Helen Goodall or Emma Goodall? That is the director. I don't have the info in front of me, but I think that has been widely received and and the other person who's just been appointed, if my memory serves me correctly, has a very, very good background working for a disability advocacy group, DEXA, I believe, up until.

Oh, look, I think I've you know, look, I've got, you know, quotes out in the public sphere that, you know, I said quite plainly when I was in opposition that I felt that the government at that point, the state government really did want to say, hey, this is not our thing now. This is up to the feds. You know, the NDIS is a federal issue, but as we know, a 20 or so percent of the population live with disability of some description. I know in our public and social housing system thereabouts, half of our residents clients have got a deep connection to or actual lived experience with disability and I thought the previous government really sort of did, you know, we've cashed out, that's it, you know, and the percentage of people on the NDIS compared to disability is small. So we have got an absolute commitment and and I think we as a Labour Opposition to government have made some very strong statements around our commitments. We've acknowledged that autism is one of the biggest diagnostic, if not the biggest diagnostic. I think it is group in the NDIS, particularly children. And we have said, well I think we need to pull this together, we need to invest in that, particularly in our schools and our community. And we have got our Assistant Minister for Autism, Emily Bourke. We've got our Ministerial Disability Advisory Committee who certainly has got lived experience of autism within it. We've got autism strategy groups now being led by the Assistant Minister with our support. We've got lead teachers happening in our primary schools. All of that stuff is getting rolled out. We've got the Office for Autism, which has now got two appointments made. If I'm right now, is it Helen Goodall or Emma Goodall? That is the director. I don't have the info in front of me, but I think that has been widely received and and the other person who's just been appointed, if my memory serves me correctly, has a very, very good background working for a disability advocacy group, DEXA, I believe, up until.

The Disability Complaints Office. Yep.

The Disability Complaints Office. Yep.

Yeah. So the office for. Has got a couple of excellent people now recruited, whether when they start, I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's very, very soon, if not already. We, our Human Services team and the Minister Blair Bowyer's education team are meeting regularly with Assistant Minister Burke. We've got a very coordinated approach to ensuring we're doing everything we can to provide additional supports and broader community strategy that is going to assist people, a specifically that are autistic and in the autistic community. But I also believe in this ripple effect in communities. When you do start investing in focused areas of need or, you know, even thinking about areas of disadvantage and challenge around communication, you start to invest in one of those areas, you'll get a knock on effect to others. So by investing in this inclusion and this inclusive kind of narrative around people with autism, I hope that supports and assists other people with disability and people with other conditions such as dementia, mental health, young people, people that are English and second language. I think the inclusion narrative is really, really important. And my mind also goes to things like the voice. Peter So this voice to Parliament matter that we have really tackled head on as a state government and that has now passed and we are seeing the process now to start the nominations for and elections of Aboriginal people to represent their communities as as a whole in the Voice. And I hope that really does take off in terms of the positive messaging around the work being done nationally to achieve this. All of these things for me absolutely are interconnecting.

Yeah. So the office for. Has got a couple of excellent people now recruited, whether when they start, I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's very, very soon, if not already. We, our Human Services team and the Minister Blair Bowyer's education team are meeting regularly with Assistant Minister Burke. We've got a very coordinated approach to ensuring we're doing everything we can to provide additional supports and broader community strategy that is going to assist people, a specifically that are autistic and in the autistic community. But I also believe in this ripple effect in communities. When you do start investing in focused areas of need or, you know, even thinking about areas of disadvantage and challenge around communication, you start to invest in one of those areas, you'll get a knock on effect to others. So by investing in this inclusion and this inclusive kind of narrative around people with autism, I hope that supports and assists other people with disability and people with other conditions such as dementia, mental health, young people, people that are English and second language. I think the inclusion narrative is really, really important. And my mind also goes to things like the voice. Peter So this voice to Parliament matter that we have really tackled head on as a state government and that has now passed and we are seeing the process now to start the nominations for and elections of Aboriginal people to represent their communities as as a whole in the Voice. And I hope that really does take off in terms of the positive messaging around the work being done nationally to achieve this. All of these things for me absolutely are interconnecting.

You've been very generous to the time. Thank you very much.

You've been very generous to the time. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Peter. No worries. Have a great day to all your listeners. Thank you.

Thanks, Peter. No worries. Have a great day to all your listeners. Thank you.

Ned Cook, the Minister for Human Services.

Ned Cook, the Minister for Human Services.