Card and photograph of David Harris as a child
(Image: Supplied)

Disability advocacy groups have called for greater accountability in the sector following Inq’s investigation into the death of David Harris, who died last year after his National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding was cut off and his support workers stopped visiting.

Disabilities Australia spokeswoman El Gibbs told Inq that disability sector agencies needed greater power to deal with complaints. 

“We need agencies, at both the state and federal levels, to take a more proactive response, and to have real teeth in dealing with these kinds of failures,” she said. 

“What happened to David Harris is appalling, and shows starkly what is going wrong with the current accountability mechanisms in the disability support system.”

Australian Federation of Disability Organisations CEO Ross Joyce told Inq meaningful changes were needed. 

“[Harris’] tragic death shows significant failings within our support systems for those with severe mental health issues,” he said.

“An inquest is needed into David’s abhorrent death and we must learn from this and ensure that changes are made and replicated across all jurisdictions … This shouldn’t have happened and should not be allowed to happen ever again.” 

Joyce added the general public needed to step up to check in on the vulnerable. “As a community we need to do better, to ensure that everyone’s life counts,” he said.

NDIS clients can report complaints to the Quality and Safeguards Commission — though several participants have told Inq they don’t think the commission has the power to make meaningful change. Lodging complaints can also have a detrimental impact on the relationship between client and provider. 

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) told Inq there was no wrongdoing by any of the agencies caring for Harris. 

Harris’ sister Leanne Longfellow told Inq she couldn’t believe there had been no protocols breached in the lead-up to Harris’ death. His body wasn’t discovered until around two months after he died, when Longfellow — who lives interstate — called NSW Police to conduct a welfare check.

David Harris and sister Leanne
David Harris with his sister Leanne. (Image: Supplied)

“I found out no policies had been breached — everyone had followed policy supposedly — and this is the outcome,” she said.  

She said trying to get answers from Harris’ NDIS providers, the NDIA and politicians had been incredibly difficult. Despite being the executor of Harris’ estate, Longfellow had to launch a freedom of information request to find out details about his NDIS plan. The pages released were heavily redacted. 

“Here we are in May 2020, and I still don’t know if there’ll be an inquest. I have very few answers,” she said. 

This morning, the NSW Coroner said they would review Harris’ file.

Opposition NDIS spokesman Bill Shorten has called for an inquiry into Harris’ death. 

“This kind of system failure resulting in death by neglect needs to be approached head-on with honesty and genuine reform,” he said in a statement. 

“An independent inquiry must be launched into these deaths by neglect of NDIS participants. Anything less is just sweeping these deaths under the carpet.” 

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