Mr Fitzgerald has called for a new National Disability Agreement between all Australian governments to improve the lives of people with disability, particularly those not covered by the NDIS, as well as their families and carers.

A report released by the commission on Friday showed that the “disability landscape” had changed dramatically since 2008 and the current NDA was “outdated and irrelevant”.

“In particular, the current agreement does not reflect the implementation of the NDIS or the National Disability Strategy,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“With so much focus on the NDIS, limited attention has been placed on achieving better outcomes for the many people with disability who are not supported through the NDIS.

“There’s about 3.8 million people with disability in Australia who are not supported by the NDIS.

“Most people with disabilities are not, and never will be, covered by the NDIS yet their rights, needs and aspirations matter.”

Mr Fitzgerald said gaps had been identified in the areas of advocacy services, support for carers, and supports for people with mental health conditions, as well as access to community and inclusion programs.

He said a “new, reinvigorated NDA could be a strong positive force to guide future disability policy, to promote better access to mainstream and disability services and to improve outcomes for people with disability”.

Disability Advocate  Kristen Desmond said she supported a gap analysis being undertaken to better understand “the many gaps in services available to support people with disability, who are not NDIS participants their families and carers”.

“There is a real lack of advocacy services for people with disability in Tasmania so any agreement that clarifies the States responsibilities in this area would be welcomed,” Ms Desmond said.

“It is important that people living with disability who are not NDIS participants continue to have access to quality services provided by the State Government.”

Tasmania’s Disability Minister Jacquie Petrusma welcomed the report.

“The Tasmanian Government welcomes the Productivity Commission’s review of the National Disability Agreement and will consider all the findings and recommendations of the report,” Ms Petrusma said.

Labor’s disability and carer’s spokeswoman Senator Carol Brown said Labor would look closely at the Commission’s findings and recommendations.

“We are convinced that States and Territories, and the Australian Government, need to work together on a unified strategy to deliver positive outcomes for people with a disability,” Senator Brown said.

“Too many people are falling through the cracks between the NDIS and state provided services, as we have seen through the lack of accessible housing options available for people with disability.”