NDIA wanted Aboriginal man, 64, who relied on ‘homemade walking stick’ rejected from scheme

The National Disability Insurance Agency argued in favour of rejecting a 64-year-old Aboriginal man who relied on a ‘homemade walking stick’ from the scheme. Photograph: David Mariuz/EPA

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) argued to reject a 64-year-old Aboriginal man who relied on a “homemade walking stick” to get into the shower from joining the NDIS, saying he could instead get aged care services at an earlier age.

The argument put forward by the agency was rejected as “extraordinary” by administrative appeals tribunal (AAT) member Simon Webb in a judgment published last week.