Labor Delivering Stronger And Fairer NDIS
The Albanese Labor Government’s significant reforms and investment have put the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) back on track.
Minister for Social Services and the NDIS, Amanda Rishworth, said the Government is making changes to ensure every dollar allocated to NDIS participants reaches them and is spent in a meaningful way that makes a difference in their lives.
“The Albanese Labor Government is absolutely committed to improving the lives of the more than 700,000 NDIS participants, ensuring people with disability can live independently and participate fully in the community,” Minister Rishworth said.
“We’re reforming the NDIS to deliver better outcomes for people with disability and to be more responsive to individual needs, as well as enabling more consistent, fair and transparent decision making so that it continues to provide the reasonable and necessary supports that people need.”
The latest NDIS monthly data for the end of February shows the scheme is tracking at approximately $700 million lower than initially forecast this financial year.
This puts the year-on-year growth rate at around 10 per cent, down from the 12 per cent growth forecast for this financial year – significantly down from 22 per cent in the 2021-22 financial year under the Liberal Party.
These results show scheme costs are stabilising and remain on track to reach National Cabinet’s eight per cent growth target by 1 July 2026.
Significant work to provide more clarity around what can be included in plans, and stopping fraud and exploitation of participants, has helped stabilise growth.
“A sustainable NDIS provides certainty for the Australian community and those who rely on it now and in the future,” Minister Rishworth said.
“The NDIS has broad support and is an integral part of our social infrastructure. While we are delivering a sustainable NDIS that can endure for generations, solely focusing on the finances fails to celebrate the scheme for what it is – a world leading social initiative.”
Minister Rishworth said the reduction in scheme growth was not coming at the expense of Australians living with disability.
“This reduction in growth is a direct result of our Government, along with the National Disability Insurance Agency, working with participants and the broader disability community to build a better NDIS,” Minister Rishworth said.
“We have had a strong focus on providing greater clarity on what NDIS funding can and cannot be spent on, on preventing fraud, and on improving planning to make it more consistent, transparent and fairer.
“We know there is more to be done, but these reforms are bringing us closer to the original intent of the scheme – to provide genuine choice and control, and provide reasonable and necessary supports, to people with a permanent and significant disability so they can participate in everyday activities.
“It is essential people with disability continue to have a voice in how any changes are implemented. We will continue to use co-design to amplify the voices of people with disability so that we get these improvements right.”
The latest data including monthly reports can be seen on the NDIS website.
https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/17911