Northern Rivers Social Development Council (NRSDC) has welcomed the announcement of the Productivity Commission proposal to establish a National Disability Insurance Scheme.   

The main function of the scheme will be to fund long term high quality support for people with significant disabilities. 

According to NRSDC CEO, Tony Davies, the scheme provides a real opportunity to meet the long unaddressed needs of disability services.

"The proposal is a major new step in supporting people with disability to have the control, certainty and support they need to live their lives the way other Australians expect as a matter of right," Mr Davies said.

"Our current system is chronically underfunded, complex, unwieldy and almost impossible to access. People have had no certainty of access to the support they need to live their life. Often support can only be accessed after a period of protracted crisis or family breakdown."

"The new scheme will provide vitally needed funding to support a comprehensive disability services system in Australia.  Equally exciting is the emphasis the new scheme has on consumer choice and direction,"  Mr Davies said.

"If it is implemented properly, we will get a system that is both equitable and consumer driven; a system that genuinely allows people with disability to take control of their lives." 

"We look forward with interest to seeing people with disability involved in the reform process at every level," Mr Davies said.

"This is a real reform proposal that we believe will happen. The Prime Minister has announced that the government will immediately start work in conjunction with States and Territories on measures to implement the scheme."

"We congratulate the government for its commitment to take real and much needed action to support the dignity and quality of life of people with disability," Mr Davies said.