Focus
Bill Shorten
Democracy, NDIS, and Family: Bill Shorten’s Parting Words to Parliament
Anthony Albanese lauded Shorten’s work rebuilding Labor post-2019, while Peter Dutton called him the great prime minister Australia never had.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Saves $1 Billion
The NDIS was slated to grow by 19 percent this financial year, but ended up growing 12 percent instead.
Australia Urges Israel to Re-Think Ban on UN Aid Agency
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged the Israeli government to rescind it’s ban on aid agency UNRWA, saying humanitarian work must continue.
NDIS Trials Outcome-Based Payments Hoping to Improve Efficiency, Rein in Costs
The pilot is expected to begin in 2025.
Bill Shorten Announces Retirement, Set for New Career in Academia
Shorten has said his decision was driven by an interest in changing careers.
NDIS Reform Bill Clears Senate: Spending Growth to Be Capped at 8 Percent
The new NDIS legislation halts automatic top-ups, sets up flexible budgets, and excludes non-NDIA supports.
Billion Dollar Question as Liberals, Greens Seek to Delay NDIS Amendment
NDIS minister Bill Shorten has accused the Greens and Liberals of playing politics by delaying an amendment to the costly scheme.
Minister Under Pressure for Hiring Speechwriter for $640,000
A professional speechwriter will be paid around $300,000 a year to assist NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, despite there being an existing communications team.
US Consulate Targeted by Pro-Palestinian Activists in Melbourne
Meanwhile, a Greens motion to suspend standing orders to recognise a Palestine state was defeated in Parliament by Labor and the Coalition.
‘Needs to Be Made Sustainable’: PM to Lower Future NDIS Funding Increases
‘It’s all difficult stuff, making sure that we can make the NDIS the best version of itself, including the most sustainable version of itself.’
Budget 2024: Labor to Spend $468 Million to Get NDIS ‘Back on Track’
The government are undertaking reforms to ’moderate this additional growth‘ and ’return the NDIS to its original intent,’ the budget noted.
Alleged Disability Scheme Fraud Cases Before Court Top 100
Work is underway to crack down on ‘opportunists in the Australian community who see government money as an opportunity to make a quick buck,’ Shorten said.
Minister Says Sex Offenders Only a Tiny Segment of NDIS Recipients
‘There are some people, when they come out of jail, we have an obligation to provide disability supports for.’
Backlog of Over 1 Million Claims at Services Australia Will Be Eased by New Staff
Hazlehurst cautioned that the backlog would take some time to reduce to acceptable levels, saying he hoped to reduce the 1.1 million claims down by April.
Crackdown Vowed on Inflated NDIS Prices
People would be empowered to dob in providers ripping off disabled people.
Review Calls for 'Automatic Access' to Government Disability Support to be Scrapped
The government will also roll out ‘foundational supports’ for all 2.5 million Australians with disability.
Released Immigration Detainee on the Run, 4 Refusing Electronic Monitoring
138 people have who have been released from detention require electronic monitoring
‘Anonymous Hoons’: Federal Minister’s Office Vandalised Amid the Middle East Conflict
The office was graffitied with the words ‘dial down the apartheid Bill.’
‘Thousands’ of Public Servants to Replace Robodebt: Shorten
Questions remain over whether the government will implement disciplinary action against those responsible for Robodebt.
Facial, Fingerprint Recognition to Be Part of Government Services Portal
The government is assuring the public their data is not being collected.
