June
- Exclusive
- Disability
NDIS to cost $100b, exceeding the pension: budget watchdog
The NDIS is on track to overtake the age pension as the most expensive area of spending within three years if it remains stuck on its current trajectory.
- Michael Read
NDIS delay to cost $1.1b as senators jet off to Brazil
Disability Minister Bill Shorten warns that a Coalition proposal to delay the government’s NDIS overhaul by two months will cost taxpayers $137 million per week.
- Michael Read
- Analysis
- Australian economy
The NDIS is a taxpayer sinkhole. Is it an economy killer too?
The uncontrolled growth in the NDIS is contributing to Australia’s inflation and productivity problem, economists and business operators say.
- John Kehoe
Hasty immigration cuts may escalate crises
Readers letters on proposed immigration cuts; Bill Shorten’s handling of the National Disability Insurance Scheme; and the productivity push
Frydenberg wise to wait for Liberal renewal
Letters from readers on Josh Frydenberg’s reluctance to return to politics; electric vehicles and the infrastructure required to spur demand; UN intervention in Gaza; and Bill Shorten’s speechwriter
- Opinion
- Wage growth
Fair Work decision gives Labor another chance to run its wages fib
The former government never embarked on a deliberate strategy to suppress wages. But you wouldn’t know it.
- Phillip Coorey
- Updated
- Disability
‘Too late to prosecute’: Fraud rife among NDIS managers
The integrity chief for the NDIS says nine out of 10 plan managers surveyed showed “significant indicators of fraud” including using scheme money for drugs and alcohol.
- Tom Burton
Bill Shorten’s speechwriter earning $620,000
A former scriptwriter for soap operas Sons and Daughters and A Country Practice now earns more than a senator as “specialist speechwriter”.
- Updated
- Tom McIlroy
May
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Bill Shorten’s NDIS spending claims can’t be trusted
A lack of respect for taxpayers explains the NDIS blowout. Perhaps it’s because almost half of adults pay no net income tax.
- John Kehoe
NDIS rorters push to spend more before reforms take effect
Unscrupulous providers are pushing participants in the disability scheme to spend up before changes limit cost growth of the $44 billion scheme.
- Tom Burton
NDIS spending blows out by $5.4b
The budget reveals government spending on the NDIS ballooned by another 21 per cent in 2023-24, with the scheme tipped to cost $61 billion by 2027.
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Labor’s plan to ‘restore faith’ in Qld
Anthony Albanese said Labor’s Future Made in Australia Act was key to “restore faith” with blue-collar Queenslanders, who deserted the party in 2019 over the confused position on the Adani coal mine.
- Phillip Coorey
Cash splash as Boomers hit the jackpot
After decades of saving, older Australians are spending up. But the wave of cash is causing headaches for the inflation-fighting treasurer and RBA. Can the good times last?
- Jacob Greber
PM blames DPP, bureaucrats for Perth couple bashing, detainee debacle
The Coalition has accused the government of duck-shoving accountability for its pledge to keep the community safe.
- Phillip Coorey
April
Millions wasted as NDIS scraps training program that produced nothing
Advocates have lashed the axing of the scheme that would have enabled people with disabilities to work in NDIS auditing teams.
- Gus McCubbing
- Updated
- Social media
Court grants injunction forcing X to take down terror video
The eSafety commissioner won an emergency injunction in the Federal Court late Monday to force Elon Musk’s X to remove videos globally of last week’s Sydney terrorist attack. But the order has limited application.
- Tess Bennett, Tom McIlroy and Nick Bonyhady
This former tennis champ is chasing unicorns and dancing pantless
Dylan Alcott has a dizzying list of achievements from 15 tennis Grand Slams to being Australian of the Year. Now, he’s chasing start-ups and performing with Jason Donovan.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
- Exclusive
- Disability
We got it wrong on ‘wasteful’ NDIS: former PC boss
Gary Banks has conceded the recommendation to create the National Disability Insurance Scheme was flawed, and has called for major reforms to limit eligibility.
- Michael Read
Geoff Wilson wants Bill Ackman’s very online notoriety
Funds management and dividend guru Geoff Wilson has logged on.
- Myriam Robin and Mark Di Stefano
Almost one in three jobs created last year was for the NDIS
The growth in NDIS-related employment has masked the slowdown in private sector industries like construction, retail and manufacturing.
- Michael Read