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JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for the ArtsThe Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North QueenslandThe Honourable Coralee O'Rourke

Premier signs Queensland NDIS agreement, now Turnbull needs to sign
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has today signed Queensland’s agreement for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rollout, calling on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to do the same and give Queenslanders the certainty they deserve.
Ms Palaszczuk said the agreement detailed how the NDIS would roll out across Queensland from July this year, and Queenslanders wanted answers.
“I know how important the NDIS is to Queenslanders – it will support more than 90,000 people with disability, doubling the number of people currently receiving disability services,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It will also create around 13,000 jobs in the state’s disability sector and inject more than $4 billion every year into the Queensland economy,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Queensland is ready for the NDIS, but with the scheme due to start rolling out in less than four months, we need Malcolm Turnbull to come on board,” she said.
“Malcolm Turnbull and the Federal Government have held Queenslanders back for too long by dragging their feet on signing this important agreement.
“I call on Malcolm Turnbull to do the right thing and put his pen to paper.”
Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke said Queensland had bent over backwards every step of the way to meet the Federal Government’s requirements for the NDIS agreement.
“Queenslanders cannot wait any longer to get certainty about our future – now is the time for action from the Prime Minister,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“The NDIS is all about empowering people with disability to reach their goals and live the lives they choose,” she said.
“The Federal Government’s inaction is impacting real life opportunities for people with disability, their families and carers, as well as jobs and economic growth.
“I want all Queenslanders to have the certainty they deserve to plan for their futures and make the most of the opportunities this huge reform will bring.
“Queenslanders with disability deserve better.”
Media contact: Minister O’Rourke’s office 3719 7184