NDIS funding: Bill Shorten not looking for ‘arm wrestle’ with states

Queensland needs to step up in helping people with disability but the major reboot of the NDIS isn’t “some sort of arm wrestle with the states”, Bill Shorten says.

Queensland needs to step up in helping people with disability, but the major reboot of the NDIS isn’t “some sort of arm wrestle with the states” about funding, federal NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says.

Mr Shorten, in Brisbane spruiking the federal Government’s budget measures, said the main focus was ensuring “people with a disability get a fair crack at a fulfilling life” and whoever is best placed to do that in certain contexts should.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has already pushed back against increasing the state’s share of NDIS cash, last month calling on the federal government to go “back to the drawing board” on the scheme’s funding.

Since then national cabinet has agreed the cost growth of the NDIS annually shouldn’t go above 8 per cent, though Mr Shorten is quick to point out this is a target, not a cap.

Economists had warned that, without intervention, the NDIS could blow out by as much as $100 billion in the next 10 years.

“My first issue is to make sure the scheme is working in the best interest of participants,” Mr Shorten said.

“I’m not going to have some sort of arm wrestle with the states about a specific funding formula.

NDIS and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten in Brisbane on Tuesday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“When the agreements come up, they’ll be renegotiated.

“The Premier of Queensland wants more support for health, we want more support on disability.

“So swings and roundabouts, it’s people of goodwill.”

It’s understood one of Queensland’s agreements on NDIS funding comes up for renegotiation this year.

Mr Shorten also reiterated the NDIS was to assist Australians with the most profound disability, pointing to the need for better early childhood screening and detection to ensure children get support early.

He confirmed the federal Government wanted to work with Queensland to trial early childhood screening at 12 months, as the reasons for a child’s developmental delay may be related to factors sorted through intervention rather than permanent disability.

The bulk of the Budget money – $429.5 million – was set to be spent on improving the National Disability Insurance Agency’s systems to improve processes and planning decisions including by training staff and bringing expertise in-house.

Mr Shorten said boosting the capacity of the NDIA would take in his opinion about three years.

Originally published as NDIS funding: Bill Shorten not looking for ‘arm wrestle’ with states