NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says state and territory support is ‘secured’ for NDIS reforms

Key points:

• States and territories support NDIS reforms, according to a recent joint statement by NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas
• The ‘Getting the NDIS Back on Track’ initiative was first introduced to parliament in March 2024, with the bill expected to pass within the next week, according to media outlets
• Approximately 649,620 eligible participants are registered with the NDIS, according to the latest data on the NDIS website

Media outlets report that state and territory officials are in support of reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, with a final decision expected soon from the national senate.

In a joint statement, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas commented on ‘significant changes to enhance co-governance arrangements, rulemaking and approval processes for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.’

The ‘Getting the NDIS Back on Track’ bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 27, 2024. The second debate with all members of the Senate occurred on August 20, 2024.

This bill was brought to parliament for amendments to the current National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, including:

• improving methods to reassess participants;
• ensuring participants only spend NDIS funding on supports related to their plans; and
• incorporating new frameworks that allow flexible budgets.

Minister Shorten highlighted the importance of having states and territories on board with the upcoming changes to the NDIS.

“There has been an agreement to introduce faster timeframes for approving NDIS rules, a new dispute resolution approach to escalate issues to First Ministers and a move from unanimous to majority First Ministers’ support for any rules with any significant impacts for people with disability and governments,” he said.

“Critically, this agreement secures the support of the states and territories for the government’s legislation and reform agenda and will help ensure the scheme is here for the future.”

However, representatives from People with Disability Australia, a disability rights and advocacy organisation, voiced concerns regarding proposed legislation that could negatively impact Australians with disability, including:

• having insufficient involvement from people with disability in framework design;
• limiting autonomy regarding participants choosing their own therapists and providers; and
• a lack of clarity regarding supports for participants with complex situations.

Approximately 649,620 eligible participants are registered with the NDIS, according to the latest data on the NDIS website.

Although the government is focused on improving the NDIS framework for participants, advocates for disability support workers believe that more needs to be done. 

Approximately 231,740 providers are currently registered with the NDIS, with an estimated number of 353,000 disability workers assisting NDIS participants. 

Minister Shorten commented on the NDIA’s work to ensure that disability workers are paid appropriately by NDIS providers.

“We are absolutely lifting our vigilance and payment systems scrutiny and we’ll keep working with the unions,” he said.

However, the Australian Services Union of NSW and ACT Secretary Angus McFarland called on the NDIA to take action and ensure that NDIS funds are used by providers to pay disability support workers based on skill level.

“The NDIA is sitting on its hands when it comes to stamping out wage theft in the NDIS and misuse of NDIS participants’ funds,” he said.

“The federal government is working to pass its ‘Getting the NDIS Back on Track’ bill but we can’t get the NDIS back on track if dodgy providers are free to rip off workers and the taxpayer. We are protesting the NDIA to back our case and back action to end wage theft in the NDIS.”

Read more about disability workers protesting against wage theft in this article: Australian Services Union Secretary Comments on wage theft protest.

What are your thoughts on the suggested amendments to the current disability scheme?

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