12th Nov 2020, 11:30 AM – Senate National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Strengthening Banning Orders) Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Implement recommendations 7 & 8

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Carol Brown (Labor), which means it failed. The usual second reading motion is "that the bill be read a second time," which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill.

Motion text

At the end of the motion, add:

", but the Senate calls on the Government to immediately accept and take the necessary steps to implement recommendations 7 and 8 of the Independent review of the adequacy of the regulation of the supports and services provided to Ms Ann-Marie Smith, an NDIS participant, who died on 6 April 2020 conducted by the Hon Alan Robertson SC".

What were recommendations 7 and 8?

(7) The Commission must at all times be able to know whether a person is or is not an NDIS participant. The Commission should also have readily available access to information held by the NDIA concerning what supports a participant is receiving and the provider of such supports. The Commission should not depend on providers to provide it with such information only after a request.

(8) There should continue to be improvements to the exchange of information and more formal lines of communication between those running the State and Territory emergency services (including police) and schemes for people with disability and the Commonwealth agencies, being the Commission and the NDIA, and vice versa.

You can read the full report [1MB] for more information.