Scott Morrison’s plan to utilise Australia’s “big hearts” to fund the NDIS is under threat, with both Labor and the Greens raising concerns over the funding plan.

The Treasurer said it was time to put politics aside and ensure the National Disability Insurance Scheme was fully funded.

“People, he’s told me, are enormously generous, not just happy to help, but keen to help,” Mr Morrison told the National Press Club, where Mr Warren was in the audience.

“He said, it’s not flash being disabled, it’s not flash. But if there’s anything good about it, he said, it’s that you’re disabled in Australia. That’s an incredibly generous statement about the big heart of Australians. He and I both know they have big hearts. I don’t know a finer man than Gary Warren.

“So last night I was very proud to declare that as a Treasurer in the Turnbull Government, we would fully fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme. That’s what this is about. That story.”

Five-time paralympian Kurt Fearnley, who earlier this year sparked debate when he accused the government of using the NDIS as a “political football” described the budget measure as “bloody fantastic”.

“I am shocked and amazed and also excited that for the first time in a few years this won’t be brought up as a political thing,” he said.

“It’s funded.

“My thoughts are we have solved a problem – it needed to be funded and if Australians can look at this levy increase and see the benefits to our community – honestly, it is a relief – now we can get on to bigger problems we still have to address, like engaging people with disabilities into the workforce, engaging in education, engaging them in the tourism industry.   But this, it’s done.  And that is amazing.”

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald