Insiders minimise NDIS glitch
Authorities have moved to minimise the fallout from a serious NDIS computer glitch.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and Federal Government have confirmed reports that the glitch affected payments (denying some entirely, while both under-paying and over-paying others), and left a number of medical records missing.
Federal Social Services Minister Christian Porter says the system will be reviewed, but was keen to point out that some problems had already been fixed.
The NDIA “has now advised that the main issues have been rectified and outstanding payment requests are being prioritised,” he said in a statement.
“It is now appropriate that a full review is conducted to determine how and why the problems arose so we can be confident that they will not reoccur.”
NDIA CEO David Bowen said the review would help his agency “continue to build a solid foundation” for the NDIS during “this period of transition”.
Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent said the problem went on for weeks before anything was done about it.
She said it was not the time for another review.
“It's a slap in the face to people with disabilities who have potentially gone without services over the last few weeks and service providers who haven't been paid,” Ms Vincent told the ABC.
“We've known for eight weeks what the problem is and that is that the system isn't working.
“It's a slap in the face to not say anything during that whole time and then come out at 8:00pm on a Friday night when barely anyone is going to be listening to announce a review.”
Ms Vincent had an issue with the cost of the review too.
“It already has enough detractors without the scheme basically imploding on itself because of this IT debacle,” she said.
“So while we understand there are going to be teething problems, we think it's very concerning.”