Ex-Labor Minister Warns Against Rushing NDIS Changes
Monday, 18 May 2026, 5:11 am
John Della Bosca warns against rushing NDIS changes.
In short:
An ex-NSW Labor minister says the NDIS rollout was rushed.
John Della Bosca warns the Albanese government against rushing NDIS changes.
The federal government says its cuts are necessary.
A former NSW Labor powerbroker warns against rushing NDIS changes.
John Della Bosca says moving support services back to states and territories risks problems.
Mr Della Bosca says cost blowouts and many people entering the NDIS were obvious problems.
The Albanese government introduced legislation to cut NDIS costs.
The government forecasts the scheme's growth will drop.
The federal government introduced legislation to rein in NDIS spending.
The states and territories must create supports outside the NDIS.
Mr Della Bosca says the states were not supposed to shut disability supports completely.
Many state governments withdrew from disability support.
Mr Della Bosca says work needs to begin now but cannot be rushed.
The federal government wants to repair its budget and sees the NDIS as a problem.
Mr Della Bosca says the NDIS cannot be solved immediately.
The states are again responsible for disability services.
Senior bureaucrats have criticised the rushed NDIS rollout.
The head of the NDIS's anti-fraud taskforce criticised the rollout.
Mass showers and squalid conditions existed.
Mr Della Bosca inherited an underfunded state disability system.
The state systems did not see people with disabilities as having rights.
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Mr Della Bosca toured institutions with squalid conditions.
Institutions had problems giving people dignity.
Mass showers and undressing in front of others were common.
One institution, Peat Island, was 'Dickensian'.
Residents addressed adults as 'dad' or 'mum'.
John Della Bosca says Peat Island was 'Dickensian'.
The state systems needed a massive overhaul.
New South Wales and other states improved their systems.
Mr Della Bosca hopes the new systems will be set up with the NDIS spirit.
We must not go back to a rigid system.
The NDIS cannot be set up overnight.
The cuts to the NDIS are the biggest savings measure.
The federal government says its cuts are necessary.
The government is working with states and territories.
The government listened to advice from the disability community.
Thriving Kids will start from October 2026.
The Commonwealth allocated $10 billion for re-establishing assistance.
Exactly how the remaining $6 billion will be spent is unknown.
The disability community feels overwhelmed.
The disability community is concerned about the lack of clarity.
Megan Spindler-Smith says the community feels used as a 'political football'.
The states are worried about their budgets.
Queensland has not signed onto the Thriving Kids program.
Mx Spindler-Smith says the states must 'come to the party'.
We need to know what will be built.
Monday, 18 May 2026, 5:11 am
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