SENATOR THE HON MITCH FIFIELD

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR VICTORIA

TRANSCRIPT
Sky News Saturday Agenda
with David Lipson
22 August 2015
8:30am
E & OE
Subjects: NDIS, Australian Hearing, Andrew Hastie, Royal Commission into trade union
governance and corruption
LIPSON:
Lets get straight to our first guest, the Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Minister for
Disability, Senator Mitch Fifield, thank you very much for your time this morning.
FIFIELD:
Hi David.
LIPSON:
Mitch Fifield theres been a bit around this week, reports that the Government, or some within it,
are trying to slow down the roll out of the NDIS. Youve been asked about this several times, so
lets get to the heart of it. What is going on here? Where are these reports coming from and is
there any attempt within Governmentnot by you but by othersto slow down the NDIS?
FIFIELD:
Look David, Im working extremely hard, the Government is working extremely hard, to roll out
the NDIS and to roll it out in full. Since weve been in Government weve established additional
NDIS trial sites. So we now have seven NDIS trial sites. We now have 18,000 people who are
participants in the Scheme. People with significant disabilities getting the better deal that they
deserve.
Im currently in negotiations with six jurisdictions for bilateral agreements which will see the
plans for the roll out of the NDIS throughout Australia beyond the current trial sites. We do have
in the ACT, already underway, the transition to full scheme. And in Western Australia, theres a
slightly different approach where theres an NDIS-run trial site and also a Western Australian
Government-run trial site. At the conclusion of that therell be an independent evaluation.

LIPSON:
What about in New South Wales where state officials are apparently mystified that the deal
hasnt been signed? The deadline was August. Whats the delay there?
FIFIELD:
David theres no delay in relation to New South Wales. The discussions and negotiations are
going extremely well and I hope in the very near future to have something to announce in
relation to that. But obviously, I cant announce something before the discussions are concluded
and obviously any announcement is one thats made by both governments.
But I just thought at the start of our discussion it was important for me to outline that in the ACT
were on the way to full transition. In WA theyre pursuing a slightly different path. And that
leaves six other jurisdictions where Im having good discussions. And were working hard,
because we want to see the NDIS rolled out in full. That's my absolute commitment.
LIPSON:
A news release from your Shadow Minister, Jenny Macklin, just a few minutes ago has said,
Mitch Fifields continued refusal to commit rolling the NDIS out in full and on time isnt helping.
Whats your response to that?
FIFIELD:
Look its been really good that up until this point the NDIS has been able to be elevated above
the partisan fray. That weve had from all sides a bipartisan approach. I hope Im not seeing an
abandonment of that approach by the Labor Party. But David, Im not sure how many more
times I can say that were determined to deliver the NDIS in full. The funding profile required to
deliver the NDIS
LIPSON:
And on time?
FIFIELD:
is laid out in the Budget papers over the forward estimates.
The Heads of Agreemententered into by the previous government with the other jurisdictions
in relation to the NDIShas a target date of 2019, so thats the timeframe, thats the
environment that were working in and towards. But obviously, there could be unforeseen issues
beyond the Commonwealths control which could affect the schedule in a particular jurisdiction
or in a particular region, I mean I think thats just a matter of logic. But obviously, if anything like
that emerged then that would be shared, all governments would be upfront about that. But were
working hard to deliver the NDIS. And, as I say, to deliver it in full.
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I am not looking for wayslet me be clear -Ive said this in the Parliament and Ive said this in
interviews. I am not looking, and the Government is not looking, for ways to slow negotiations.
Were not looking for ways to, or reasons to, slow the rollout. What Im looking for are the ways
to deliver the Scheme and to make sure its the very best that it can be.
But if I can also again state, I guess something that is a matter of logic, in relation to the bilateral
negotiations that Im currently undertaking, the Commonwealth cannot act unilaterally. The
Commonwealth cannot declare that negotiations are over, that they are at an end. It takes both
parties to reach a conclusion in relation to negotiations. And thats what were seeking to do.
Because this is a shared venture of all Australian governments. This is not just a
Commonwealth responsibility to deliver. Its a shared responsibility of all Australian
governments. And my ministerial counterparts in the jurisdictions are showing immense
goodwill. We all want to get this done. Its too important not to get right and we will deliver it.
LIPSON:
Hearing Australia. Theres talk that it may be privatised some time in the future by the
Government. Can you shed any light on this? Does the Government have plans to privatise
Hearing Australia?
FIFIELD:
The Department of Finance has undertaken a scoping study in relation to Hearing Australia.
And the Minister for Finance, in May, announced that there would be further consultation with
the community in relation to future ownership arrangements of Australian Hearing. But the
Government hasnt made any decision in relation to ownership arrangements for Hearing
Australia. One thing that is going to happen, which is a decision taken by the previous
government, is that certain community service obligations which were auspiced by and through
Australian Hearing will, with the full rollout of the NDIS, be auspiced through the NDIS scheme.
Now, essentially what that means is, for an individual, where there may at the moment only
have the choice and the option of getting services from Australian Hearing. They will have, as a
participant in the NDIS, the option of receiving services and supports from the service provider
of their choice. So thats an issue that is separate to the question of ownership of Australian
Hearing.
So it's just important to be clear that there are two separate issues. The subject of ownership
the Government has not taken a decision on. The subject of more choice for people in the
NDIS, is a separate issue to the question of ownership.
LIPSON:
The Prime Ministers in WA at the moment and has been in the seat of Canning where there will
be a by-election in a months time. Fairfax papers today has a report about the Liberal
candidate there Andrew Hastiea very strong candidate by all reportsreporting that he was in
command of a unit thats being investigated for removing the hands of dead Taliban soldiers.
Now he wasnt in the area at the time, he was on a different battlefield according to these
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reports. What do you feel about these reports. Is it a smear? Whats your opinion?
FIFIELD:
Well Im not sure what the source of that particular piece is but the facts are, Andrew Hastie is
someone who has served his nation with distinction. He has served in the SAS. He has put
himself in harms way for Australia. He has served as an officer. He has been decorated. And
were extremely proud and extremely pleased to have someone of his calibre, and of his
character as our candidate in the seat of Canning.
LIPSON:
And just finally, Dyson Heydon. The case put forward by the unions yesterday was that a fairminded lay observer might have doubts now about the Commissioners impartiality. Do you
think thats right?
FIFIELD:
Well David Ill come to that, but I think its important just for moment to go back to the genesis of
the Royal Commission. And that was a desire on the part of the Government to put in place a
mechanism to determine if there was systemic corruption in the trade union movement. And the
evidence that has come before the Royal Commission to date has demonstrated that there
is. That was our purpose in establishing the Royal Commission.
Bill Shorten is intent on continuing to run his protection racket for particular unsavoury elements
of the trade union movement. And the smears that he is perpetrating on Dyson Heydon are part
of that effort to continue the protection racket for trade unions.
But Bill Shorten is actually at odds with one of his own team. Stephen Jones on this programme
only a few days ago said that the appropriate mechanism when a party to a Royal Commission
has issues in relation to a Royal Commissioner, that the appropriate process is that they raise
those in the forum with the Royal Commissioner. Which is whats happening. Bill Shorten says
that thats not appropriate. So the Australian Labor Party have got to get their lines clear on that
particular subject.
But look Dyson Heydon is one of Australias most respected jurists. Hes been doing an
excellent job. And the Royal Commission should be allowed to get on with its work.
LIPSON:
Senator Mitch Fifield, great to talk to you as always. Thanks for your company.
FIFIELD:
Thanks David.
Media contact:
Vincent Tulley | 0409 244 865 | vincent.tulley@dss.gov.au