Bill Shorten says not fixing NDIS would be a ‘betrayal’ as States warn against cost-shifting

Bill Shorten says governments would be betraying people with a disability if urgent action wasn’t taken to mend NDIS, as the imminent release of a landmark review threatens to ignite a new funding row between the Commonwealth and States. National cabinet will meet next week in Canberra to consider the findings of a sweeping review of the $40b disability scheme. The recommendations will set the foundation for a major reset of the NDIS as the Federal Government tries to curb exploding costs and participant numbers. The West understands the review will recommend the Commonwealth, States and Territories agree to a new model to fund not just the NDIS but also “foundational supports” for the millions of disabled people who aren’t on the scheme. The hope is that offering basic support — in particular to children with autism and developmental delays — will reduce the reliance on the NDIS, which has become the only option for most families. The cost of the scheme was supposed to be split 50-50 but the Commonwealth’s share has risen sharply amid repeated Budget blowouts. The push comes amid tensions between the Albanese Government and the States over infrastructure cuts, health funding pressures and uncertainty about the future of the GST carve-up. Mr Shorten, the NDIS Minister, acknowledged the funding tensions but said there was a duty to fix the scheme for participants. “I can’t sugarcoat it,” he said. “We think that this scheme should keep growing, we think this scheme should keep growing at about 8 per cent (each year), but we do think the scheme can be improved, and to do nothing would be a betrayal of people with disability.” WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti has warned the Federal Government against trying to shift costs to the States. “I think there’s got to be a realisation that States and Territories are in the same boat with challenges to their budget, that there needs to be a cooperative way going forward,” she said. “Blaming, or giving it to one tier of government doesn’t work.” Ms Saffioti will discuss the NDIS review with fellow treasurers in Brisbane on Friday before Premier Roger Cook attends national cabinet on Wednesday. State Disability Ministers — including WA’s Don Punch — were handed the review in late October, and earlier this month received almost 1300 pages of detailed analysis. Ms Saffioti on Wednesday said she had not seen the extra documents. Mr Shorten said it would be up to the Prime Minister and premiers to negotiate the funding split.