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What’s happening up north? Thriving Kids will start on 1 October. Canberra says families are losing time; Brisbane still wants answers and neither side looks like backing down. Caught in the center - children with disability.

Aaah, Queensland. Beautiful one day, different the next.

Health Minister Mark Butler is urging Queensland, the only jurisdiction without a Thriving Kids agreement, to sign before next week. It won’t. The Acting Disability Minister Ros Bates says the state needs more detail, including, rather surprisingly, what happens after children turn nine. ABC News

The fight goes on. Canberra and Queensland both insist they won’t back down - but guess what? Someone will. The problem at the moment is both sides are posturing, rather than attempting to find a solution.

Children destined for Thriving Kids don’t appear to be the only children in the room.

The program itself is intended for children under nine with low to moderate support needs outside the NDIS. October just brings information and general support, including online parenting courses, so Butler’s ‘deadline’ is theoretically immaterial.

It does, however, significantly impact those who will recieve therapy. The Autism Association of Australia says families cannot afford the standoff. ABC News

Data Watch: States and territories have agreed to contribute a combined $4 billion over five years, according to AAP. Queensland has yet to sign its program agreement. SBS News

Bottom line: Families need to know what help Queensland will offer from 1 October.

Fraud and participant protection: Yesterday on ABC AM, NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said fraud can accompany neglect or exploitation, and defended spending on payment controls and law enforcement. She cited Operation Pegasus, saying six offenders received a combined sentence of more than 31 years. Ministerial interview transcript.

NDIS integrity: The government says its interventions over the past 5 years prevented $1.2 billion in fraud and redirected $900 million to legitimate supports. The further $2 billion by June 2029 is a projection; the $2.1 billion headline combines different kinds of benefit. Ministerial release. health.gov.au

Disability Strategy evaluation: An independent evaluation is seeking experiences from people with disability, families and carers, including by online text, audio or video, survey and consultation. Submissions remain open until 6 November 2026. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. health.gov.au

NSW community transport: Transport for NSW will review a $13 million annual program that helps eligible people without other transport reach services and community activities; it expects to finish in mid-2027. NSW Government release. NSW Government

Provider law briefings: The NDIA is running one-hour online sessions for providers on the 2026 NDIS legislative changes. NDIA event and registration. NDIS

Parkes access: Parkes Shire Council has secured $122,939 in federal funding for a Changing Places facility. It will serve people with high support needs in an area where compliant sites are more than 100 kilometres away. The full council release.

Funding reset meets the market: In a 23 September analysis, Brian Cooper argues that unspent NDIS funds may show a shortage of workers, suitable providers or transport rather than a lack of need. He warns reduced participation budgets could weaken local services before all affected plans change, leaving some people with funding on paper but fewer supports to buy. Brian Cooper, LinkedIn.

Queensland lashed over Thriving Kids holdout, days out from launch Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says Queensland families are losing time as the state holds out on a Thriving Kids agreement. In an afternoon update, Acting Disability Minister Ros Bates says Queensland needs more detail, including what happens after children turn nine. www.abc.net.au

Labor's NDIS reform plan has hit a stumbling block in Queensland States and territories have agreed to contribute a combined $4 billion over five years to Thriving Kids, AAP reports, but Queensland has not signed. Butler accuses the state of delaying work it accepted in the earlier national agreement. The report also canvasses Minister McAllister’s separate account of the NDIS fraud crackdown. www.sbs.com.au

Retirees get the blame, but NDIS is bigger budget cost The column challenges the emphasis on retirees in discussion of the Intergenerational Report and argues that NDIS costs for people under 65 deserve closer attention. theaustralian.com.au

Canberra Disability Expo this weekend Expo ambassador and Paralympian Michael Milton says the event can connect people with disability to equipment, activities, employment and accommodation options. He also points to gaps in Canberra’s buses, accessible ride services and accommodation. The free event is at EPIC on 25–26 September, 9 am–3 pm, with a quieter hour on Saturday morning and live captioning.