How to make every Australian Count: financing disability needs

If a tax isn't the right way to fund the NDIS then what is the best way to proceed? The second option recommended by the Productivity Commission is the most feasible solution. It is not unreasonable to believe that the government could manageably afford it.

Supporters of 'Every Australian Counts', NDIS advocate groups argue that only $6.5 billion more will be needed from the $380 billion budget available to the federal government. This being the case, the government would only need to make small adjustments in the budget to ensure funding for the NDIS was secured.

While the costs of the scheme are high, it is up to government to balance its commitments to society as a whole. This is a key function of any government. Knowing that we have an aging population the government has not created a new tax to pay for it. It is and will remain to be funded by government. The same should be applied to the development of disability policy.

In our current environment where individuals envision every new tax as a direct threat to their monetary security, it seems absurd why one would propose a tax solution to a social policy issue if government has the means to fund it. If a tax system would have an adverse effect on those it seeks to benefit, why not leave the funding of the NDIS up to government?

Government obligations to all of society, including the old and the disabled, means economic outlays from general revenue should be made available to fund the NDIS.