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Mark Butler’s speech at the National Press Club yesterday was about three things: pennies, politics, and progression. Firstly and most critically, the finance, because this is all about money.

We’ve heard the framing before - the NDIS is great, but unsustainable. This time, however, Butler added an important nuance we haven’t heard before. The problem isn’t just ‘shonks’ and ‘thieves’. The root cause of the blow-out is embedded within the system itself.

Re-framing the problem like this allows him to tackle the real issue: entitlement. He’s determined to bring the costs under control. Doing this means he will need to change the scheme. Yesterday’s speech was about flagging - to the sector, the bureaucrats, and the public - that real change is coming.

This was Butler’s second mission, the politics. He made it crystal clear that he will push these changes through. If state governments, advocates, and the sector want to influence what’s happening they need to get on board. Otherwise, they’ll be left behind.

And this was the final part of his message: progression.

Surprisingly, there were no cute slogans or brochures with glossy pictures of smiling people in wheelchairs. Butler signalled he will be pushing the changes through but also indicated there’s still room to negotiate around the edge. The details haven’t been finalised and there’s still space for change.

But the NDIS of 2028 will look very different to the way it does today.

We’re back!

Yesterday’s speech was so important we had to start publishing abilityNEWS Daily again, even though we’re still working on the detail.

If you want to tell us how to imporve further please feel free to get in touch.

Best, Nic Stuart

[email protected] or 04 10 278 827.

NDIS reforms must not transfer budget risk onto people with disability
Advocacy for Inclusion warned the government’s NDIS reform package risks putting budget repair ahead of the rights and safety of people with disability. The organisation said it supports stronger provider registration and payment integrity measures, but raised concern about plan-budget cuts, participant reductions and the proposed new eligibility framework.
Advocacy for Inclusion

People are scared
People With Disability Australia warned that the NDIS changes announced by Mark Butler risk leaving people with disability without the supports they need to live ordinary lives. The organisation said disabled people are fearful about the impact of reduced access, new eligibility rules and cuts to supports.
PWDA

Disability organisations call for critical supports to remain during NDIS changes
Children and Young People with Disability Australia published a joint Disability Representative Organisations statement acknowledging the need to tackle fraud and long-term NDIS sustainability, while calling for critical supports to remain in place as reforms are made. The statement said the sector was ready to work constructively with government but warned that people must not be left without support.
CYDA

Reform must not leave people with disability without support
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations listed a 22 April media release responding to the Minister’s NDIS address, saying reform must not leave people with disability without support. The item appears on AFDO’s media-release archive as a new release within the search window.
AFDO

More than 160,000 people to be kicked off NDIS as government overhauls eligibility test
Health and NDIS Minister Mark Butler unveiled sweeping NDIS cuts aimed at reducing the projected cost of the scheme to $55 billion by 2030. The proposal would move away from diagnosis-based eligibility and is projected to result in about 160,000 people losing supports.
ABC News

How will the changes to the NDIS affect me? Five key takeaways from the government's planned overhaul
ABC’s explainer sets out the proposed changes, including reduced participant numbers, new eligibility rules, provider registration, digital payments and limits on social and community participation funding. It also notes concern from autism advocates about unclear standardised eligibility testing.
ABC News

$7000 NDIS cuts to social funding could reduce 'only' support keeping people connected
ABC reported that average NDIS participants could lose about $7,000 in funding used for social and community participation. The story says advocates warn the cuts could isolate some participants, while the government points to fraud concerns in that support category.
ABC News

Labor's NDIS savings plan hinges on state-run supports
ABC reported that the government’s savings plan depends on people moved off the NDIS being supported by state-run or community-based systems outside the scheme. The story highlights the unresolved question of whether those alternative supports will be ready and adequately funded.
ABC News

Tough NDIS budget decision could prove the exception
ABC analysis said the NDIS reform package will require legislation by 30 June and difficult negotiations with the disability sector and state governments. The piece frames the plan as a politically difficult attempt to curb scheme growth before the federal budget.
ABC News

NDIS participants await government announcement
Radio National Breakfast previewed the government’s NDIS announcement through the experience of autistic writer Clem Bastow, who said they were fearful ahead of changes to the scheme. The segment was part of the 22 April Breakfast program.
ABC Listen

'People are disgusted' - Greens warn against cuts to the NDIS
Greens disability spokesperson Jordon Steele-John told Radio National Breakfast that people in the disability community were “disgusted” at the prospect of supports and services being cut. The segment focused on the government’s push to rein in NDIS costs.
ABC Listen

How did the NDIS become so expensive?
Radio National Breakfast ran an explainer segment asking whether taking children with mild autism off the NDIS could save the scheme. The item sits within the 22 April Breakfast program and is part of ABC’s broader NDIS reform coverage.
ABC Listen

With a degenerative disability, Jane is unsure of her future. Now she's fearful of NDIS cuts
SBS reported on Jane Britt, a deafblind NDIS participant with a degenerative disability who fears the impact of the proposed cuts. The story says disability advocates are concerned the reforms could disproportionately affect parts of the community.
SBS News

Concerned about footing the bill for NDIS changes, states are pushing back
SBS reported that state leaders are worried the proposed NDIS reforms will shift costs and responsibility to them. The article says Mark Butler has revealed 160,000 people are expected to be shifted off the $50 billion scheme under new eligibility rules.
SBS News

"Difficult, unavoidable": NDIS overhaul aims to reduce participation and target fraudulent providers
SBS News In Depth reported that the government’s reforms aim to reduce NDIS participation, tighten eligibility and target fraudulent providers. The audio item includes disability advocates welcoming some aspects while warning that more clarity is needed on cuts to support and eligibility.
SBS News

At least 160,000 to be cut from NDIS amid concerns vulnerable people will be left without care
The Guardian reported the Albanese government’s plan to tighten NDIS eligibility and reduce projected participant numbers from 900,000 to about 600,000 by 2030. The story canvasses warnings from disability advocates, the Greens and state officials about people being left without care.
The Guardian

The NDIS is undergoing sweeping changes. How will the cuts work - and will they affect you?
The Guardian’s explainer sets out the proposed NDIS eligibility changes, the shift from diagnosis to functional-capacity assessment, reductions in plan-manager spending and new provider-registration measures. It says the government wants to reduce scheme growth to 2 per cent until 2030.
The Guardian

Government flags crackdown, cost-cutting in NDIS
9News reported on Mark Butler’s National Press Club announcement, including cost-cutting, eligibility changes and a crackdown on providers. The public preview says the government is moving to address NDIS growth and broader health-budget pressures.
9News

Health Minister Mark Butler announces major NDIS reforms
news.com.au reported that Butler appeared on ABC’s 7.30 and defended the government’s approach to provider registration, digital payments and eligibility reform. The story says the reforms are designed to reduce future NDIS costs and tackle alleged rorting of the scheme.
news.com.au

Government slashes NDIS participants by 160,000 in major reset
The Australian reported that the government wants to reduce NDIS participants from about 760,000 to 600,000 by 2030 and cap spending growth at 2 per cent a year. The publicly visible summary says the package includes stricter eligibility, a move away from diagnosis-based access and changes to social participation funding.
The Australian
Paywall: Yes

NDIS eligibility changes target autism diagnosis gateway
The Australian reported that the government’s new NDIS eligibility model would shift away from automatic access through diagnosis, including autism diagnoses, toward functional-capacity assessment. The public preview includes concerns from autism advocates about service gaps and the speed of reform.
The Australian
Paywall: Yes

NDIS overhaul to save $15b a year by end of decade, says Butler
The AFR reported that Mark Butler says the NDIS is financially unsustainable and losing social licence. The article focuses on the claimed savings from the overhaul and the government’s attempt to bring scheme costs under control.
Australian Financial Review
Paywall: Yes

Butler cleans up the NDIS mess Labor created
The AFR opinion piece argues Butler’s goal to remove 160,000 participants from the NDIS and halt cost growth marks a major political and fiscal intervention. The publicly visible preview frames the reform as an attempt to repair problems in a scheme Labor created.
Australian Financial Review
Paywall: Yes

Butler performs radical surgery on the NDIS
Jennifer Hewett wrote that delivering the government’s NDIS commitment will be harder than the tough language used to announce it. The column is a materially distinct commentary piece on the politics and implementation difficulty of the reform package.
Australian Financial Review
Paywall: Yes

CBA built an NDIS payment system to stop fraud. It was not adopted
The AFR reported that Commonwealth Bank had built an NDIS payment system intended to address fraud, but it was not adopted. The story is a distinct business and integrity angle linked to Butler’s statement that payment claiming and management must be tackled.
Australian Financial Review
Paywall: Yes

Samantha Maiden talks NDIS and Julia Gillard legislation
Samantha Maiden’s News Corp column framed the planned removal of 160,000 people from the NDIS as politically and practically brutal. This appears to be the canonical visible News Corp version of the same commentary carried across several sister mastheads.
AdelaideNow
Paywall: Yes