States Approve $14B NDIS Overhaul Plan

The states and territories have agreed to support the federal government's overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ending months of tension and facilitating reforms aimed at saving $14 billion over four years. The agreement involved amendments to address concerns, such as a new dispute resolution approach and accelerated time frames for changes to NDIS rules. However, the Board of People with Disability Australia (PWDA) opposes the bill, citing excessive authority granted to the NDIA, lack of co-design, and potential human rights violations. NDIS Minister Bill Shorten emphasized that the reforms, based on recommendations from the NDIS Review, will take years to implement and require ongoing collaboration with the disability community. Despite political resolution, the disability community remains apprehensive about the changes and their impact on daily support needs.