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At least 160,000 people are expected to be removed from the national disability insurance scheme by 2030, as the Albanese government looks to claw back savings by changing who can access the scheme.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday ahead of the 12 May federal budget, the federal health minister, Mark Butler, said unannounced changes to eligibility rules would reduce the number of people using the NDIS to about 600,000 by 2030, down from forecasts of 900,000 participants.
Butler said instead of costing more than $70bn at the end of the decade, the cost for the scheme will be brought down to about $55bn. “These are hard decisions – but they’re unavoidable and urgent,” he added.
Butler also announced the $50bn scheme’s growth rate will be brought down to just 2% every year until 2030 in an effort to curb annual plan inflation and produce billions in savings. Labor had originally flagged plans to limit growth to between 5% and 6% annually, but the changes will go further.
Top news
The Deb actor in feud with Rebel Wilson signed $150,000 record deal, court told
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Rugby Australia ‘resets finances, restores pride’ after posting $100m turnaround
Virginia voters approve new congressional maps in blow to Trump
Condom prices could rise 30% due to Iran war, says world’s top producer Karex
In pictures
On Tuesday, Japan’s government scrapped a ban on exports of lethal weapons – a move seen as a direct challenge to the country’s postwar pacifism. On Sunday, an estimated 36,000 people squeezed on to narrow paths in front of the National Diet – Japan’s parliament – to call for an immediate end to the Iran war and to keep the country’s “pacifist” constitution intact.
What they said …
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“Bikram’s case is a reminder of how important it is to work closely with our state government counterparts and community service providers to make sure that people don’t fall through the cracks” – spokesperson for the federal housing minister, Clare O’Neil.
The spokesperson described the death in Sydney’s Hyde Park of Bikram Lama – a young homeless man also known as “birdman” – as “beyond tragic”. Federal and state housing ministers say the tragedy reinforces the need to stop vulnerable rough sleepers from falling through the cracks.
Full Story
How bad is the Australian economy going to get?
This week the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, warned that Australians could face tougher times ahead as the economy is held “hostage” by the US-Israel war on Iran.
Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, and business editor Jonathan Barrett join Nour Haydar to discuss how hard Australians are being hit by the cost of living and if help is on the way.
Before bed read
What is behind the surge in ufology? The recent spike can be traced to the top of the US government. The Pentagon released its UFO videos, prompting Daniel Lavelle to head to the US to chase aliens. This is what Daniel found.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: EPIC. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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