Recommendation 5.1 – A new National Disability Agreement

What has been achieved to date

All governments are committed to ensuring intergovernmental arrangements support collaboration to advance equality, inclusion and the rights of people with disability in Australia and ensure appropriate governance of the disability ecosystem.

What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report

The Australian Government and state and territory governments should develop a new National Disability Agreement through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council, to be signed by first ministers. The fundamental objective of the Agreement should be to advance equality, inclusion and the rights of people with disability in Australia.

The Agreement should provide the framework for intergovernmental collaboration to:

• develop and implement reforms requiring national attention and coordination, including recommendations of this Royal Commission
• implement Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (the Strategy) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Strategy, NDIS national agreements and policies, and other national disability frameworks should be schedules to the new National Disability Agreement.

The Agreement should clearly set out roles and responsibilities of parties to the Agreement.

The new National Disability Agreement should be developed and finalised by the end of 2024.

Joint Government response July 2024

The Australian Government and state and territory governments are committed to ensuring intergovernmental arrangements support collaboration to advance equality, inclusion and the rights of people with disability in Australia and ensure appropriate governance of the disability ecosystem.

All governments have agreed to work together, and with the disability community, to:

• Implement legislative and other changes to the NDIS to improve the experience of participants and restore the original intent of the Scheme, within a broader ecosystem of supports.
• Jointly design additional Foundational Supports to be jointly funded through new Federation Funding Agreements, with additional costs split 50-50 between the Commonwealth and jurisdictions.
• Undertake a targeted review of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 to identify practical process, governance and reporting improvements in response to issues identified in the Disability Royal Commission’s inquiry and Final Report.

Governments will respond to this recommendation by 31 December 2024, following further consideration alongside relevant recommendations of the NDIS Review.

More recommendations

View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.