Jenny McAllister says the government is not contemplating a delay in removing people from the NDIS. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)
The NDIS minister will not say if the government will delay participants' exit from the scheme if foundational supports are not ready.
Jenny McAllister has insisted the government will not leave people without support and says the Thriving Kids program is on track to roll out in October.
The government is expected to pass sweeping cuts to the NDIS in a deal with the Coaltiion in parliament this week.
The NDIS minister has refused to commit to delaying participants’ exit from the National Disability Insurance Scheme if alternative services are not yet in place, while insisting the government will not leave people without support.
Jenny McAllister told Insiders the government "had time" to make sure safety net supports were ready before the projected removal of hundreds of thousands of people from the scheme in 2028.
Asked repeatedly if the government would delay the rollout of changes if supports were not ready, the minister said the government was "not contemplating" a delay.
“We want to see alternative supports in place at the same time that we bring access changes into play," she said.
"I don't think we need to contemplate delay at this point … what we are trying to do is move to a position where we are ready to make these changes."
Senator McAllister also said she was confident one of the pillars of the foundational supports, the Thriving Kids program, was on track to meet its scheduled start date of October 1.
That is despite a refusal from the Queensland state government to sign up to the scheme.
"I'm really confident this is in the interests of the Queensland population, and I think Queensland residents will want to see their government take the next step," she said.
Among submissions to a Senate inquiry into the legislation this year, state and territories ministers said the changes to the NDIS were happening too fast and with too little consultation, and warned alternative services would not be ready.
The NDIS minister says the government is confident in the broad direction of the proposed legislation. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)
Senator McAllister said the government was close to a deal with the Coalition to pass sweeping changes to the scheme this week, which would include stronger protections to combat fraud.
