The Hon. Andrew Leigh MP responded negatively to A4's request that the ABS's SDAC survey collect data in 2025 (or 2026) ... ahead of the government's recent decision to wait longer.

The Minister's (undated) response is available below. 

A4 does not understand why the survey would return to a six year cycle during the early stages of NDIS stabilisation (or major reform), the start of Thriving Kids, and the design phase of Foundational Supports for people with disability. 

Mr Buckley, A4 co-convenor, said, "stopping this measurement and reporting at this time make no sense at all: government needs independent reporting of disability outcomes when its systems are not working and major reform in underway".

"Good measurement and reporting practice requires baseline data for the starting point. The ABS SDAC should be used to set the baseline for Thriving Kids, Foundational Support, and NDIS reforms in the disability sector", he said.

The government did not consult disability representative organisations (DROs) about this decision. 

There is no point talking to ABS staff about a decision that was clearly made outside their agency. 

See also https://a4.org.au/node/2744