There are 13 recommendations included in this interim report on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I urge the Morrison government to act on these recommendations which will improve the lives of participantsbetter training for planners, set time frames for reviews and face-to-face contact between planners and participants to get the best plans to help participants who have a disability reach their full potential. That's what the NDIS is about.

As a member of the NDIS joint standing committee, I've heard many stressful stories from participants and their families: waiting for a wheelchair for many months, waiting for a review, waiting for funding for a plan, young participants living in aged care and wanting to live independently. These stories have been very difficult to hear, and I want to see the NDIS become a much better system. When I stood with Julia Gillard when this system was first announced many years ago, when I was the mayor of Surf Coast Shire, we had great hope for this plan and for the NDIA. Now, through the NDIS joint standing committee, we have the opportunity to put forward recommendations to make it what it truly should be: a means for people to do their best in order for participants to live full lives. Our interim recommendations will go some way to resolving the barriers to participants living full and fulfilling lives.

I once again urge the Morrison government to act on these recommendations. Some do involve more funding. Some are just common sense and involve a more thoughtful and strategic approach. I would like to thank my fellow members of the committee, led by the chair, the member for Menzies, who has taken an amazingly bipartisan approach to this. It has been a real pleasure to work with the member for Menzies. I would also like to acknowledge the deputy chair, Senator Carol Brown; my colleague and member for Maribyrnong, the shadow minister for NDIS; and of course the member for Canberra, who is here today to speak as well. Thank you.