Cabinet reshuffle: Christian Porter takes carriage of NDIS

New Social Services Minister Christian Porter will have responsibility for delivering the $22bn NDIS.

Christian Porter has been appointed as Social Services Minister.

New Social Services Minister Christian Porter will have responsibility for delivering the $22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme, which is contested in his home state of Western Australia.

The state government has been reluctant to sign on to the scheme because it insists its own disability system — My Way — is better for people with disabilities and more cost-efficient.

In a January interview on Sydney radio station 2GB, Mr Porter framed the spending around the NDIS as an issue in a budget crisis. “And NDIS that you mentioned, worthy program and well supported by the Coalition though it is, starts out from zero expenditure federally, and grows to $11bn worth of expenditure per year, which is a 46 per cent increase every year,” he said.

“These were the type of spending increases … that Labor built into the budget without having any idea of how they were going to pay for it.”

Mr Porter told The Australian his main focus in the portfolio would be one of “sustainability”.

“I’ve had a good look at the portfolio through the expenditure review of cabinet process and I’m fully aware of all the problems, perils and pitfalls in terms of service delivery,” he said. “If we want to be generous to the people in greatest need, then we have to be as stringent as possible.”

Outgoing assistant social services minister Mitch Fifield, who had responsibility for ageing and disability, will move into the communications portfolio.

Mr Porter, who holds the seat of Pearce, was West Australian treasurer and attorney-general before moving into federal politics in 2013. He was eventually appointed by former prime minister Tony Abbott as his parliamentary secretary and shepherded part of the government’s red-tape reduction program through parliament.

Outgoing social services minister Scott Morrison had only just begun a long-term reform strategy for the portfolio, based on the review conducted by Patrick McClure.

This will include an early-investment model to divert the most vulnerable people from welfare by helping them earlier in life and rationalising the payment system.

Mr Porter has previously backed tough and twice-defeated welfare measures in the budget, including making young people wait a month for the dole.