By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
GATEWAY Industries president has voiced fears about how the National Disability Insurance Scheme might affect his business and its workers.
Russell Smith told supporters and workers at the Australian Disability Enterprise’s annual general meeting last week that he was not sure if the Federal Government would commit more or less than the scheme’s anticipated $22 billion annual bill.
He cautioned that funds could be diverted to run the “large bureaucracy” overseeing the NDIS.
“We wonder where the money is going to go? We certainly have to fill in so many more forms ensuring compliance.”
He also feared consultants may mislead people with a disability on how to spend their support entitlement and divert them from precariously-funded enterprises such as Gateway.
The business made a slender profit in 2012-13.
Mr Smith said the business was strongly dependent on expanding its band of donors and business contracts as well as government funding to keep afloat.
Its “most happy, hard-working people” serve clients such as Greater Dandenong and Casey councils, providing grounds maintenance, street bin collection and packaging work.
“I wonder how many other workplaces have workers lining up at the gate waiting to come in each morning?
“They’re so loyal, they don’t go behind your back.”
Benefactors were needed to sponsor industrial equipment such as mowers and climate control systems, and items such as street directories and first aid kits.
Mr Smith paid tribute to Rotary clubs of Dandenong, Dandenong East and Noble Park.
The former had established the business 30 years ago in response of a lack of employment for people with disabilities in the area.
