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Victoria takes a swipe at ‘underhanded’ federal government over NDIS

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Victoria takes a swipe at ‘underhanded’ federal government over NDIS

The Victorian government has taken a swipe at the federal government over its dealings on the $40 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme, accusing it
The Victorian government has taken a swipe at the federal government over its dealings on the $40 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme, accusing it

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The Victorian government has taken a swipe at the federal government over its dealings on the $40 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme, accusing it of being underhanded and keeping states in the dark over how it plans to bring costs down.

Victorian Disability Minister Lizzie Blandthorn on Wednesday said she was “very concerned” about the future of negotiations after federal NDIS minister Bill Shorten flagged changes to how people accessed the scheme and said states needed to boost their support for students with disabilities in their schools.

Victorian Disability Minister Lizzie Blandthorn.

Victorian Disability Minister Lizzie Blandthorn.Credit: Diego Fedele

As a funding row escalates between the Albanese government and Labor premiers, who are already angry at $11 billion cuts to future infrastructure projects, Blandthorn said she feared disability support would fall to the states under a joint commitment to limit spending on the NDIS to an 8 per cent growth target.

“I’m very concerned, to be honest, about where we find ourselves with the Commonwealth in relation to the NDIS,” she said. “I feel very ill-equipped to advise our first minister as to how she should approach those discussions when the Commonwealth are being underhanded.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will discuss the future of the scheme, which is one of the federal government’s biggest budget pressures, with state and territory first ministers at a national cabinet meeting next month.

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Without major reform, the NDIS is forecast to cost $100 billion by 2032, in part due to a higher-than-forecast number of children with autism and developmental delays joining the scheme because they can’t access support outside it.

While NDIS costs were supposed to be split 50-50 between the state and Commonwealth, a cap on state funding means the federal government’s share of spending has blown out to 66 per cent and continues to grow as costs spiral.

A year-long review of the NDIS chaired by one of its architects, Bruce Bonyhady, will clarify that individualised NDIS packages were designed only for Australians with profound disabilities and reinforce the case for state governments to step up disability support through mainstream health, education and transport systems.

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Origininal Post https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/victoria-takes-a-swipe-at-underhanded-federal-government-over-ndis-20231122-p5em3d.html

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