Latest news with #NDIS
The Age
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
What will Albanese give Trump on defence? Not much
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's demand for Australia to nearly double defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP has gone down like a bucket of cold sick in Canberra. Anthony Albanese, who chose to ignore the Coalition's calls earlier this year for him to travel post-haste to Washington and prostrate himself before President Donald Trump to secure Australia a tariff exemption, feels his judgment has been vindicated. Fresh from being re-elected with a historic majority, Albanese is in no mood to bow down to the Americans, especially when dislike (or at least distrust) of the current US administration aided Labor's victory. At present, Australia spends about 2 per cent of GDP on defence, or about $59 billion a year, and that figure will rise to 2.3 per cent by 2030. Going to 3.5 per cent would mean spending an extra $40 billion each year, approximately the annual cost of the entire NDIS. Delivering this would require significant tax rises or a big increase in federal borrowing – maybe both – and potentially swingeing cuts to the expanded social programs that Australians just voted for. Loading The prime minister's response on Monday was cautious, measured and a polite rejection of our closest ally's request. 'What you should do in defence is decide what you need, your capability, and then provide for it. That's what my government's doing ... we've provided an additional $10 billion of investment into defence over the forward estimates [four years],' he said. 'What we don't do is do what the opposition did during the election campaign, where they announced an amount of money, they couldn't say where the money was coming from and they couldn't say what it was for. That makes no sense.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
What will Albanese give Trump on defence? Not much
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's demand for Australia to nearly double defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP has gone down like a bucket of cold sick in Canberra. Anthony Albanese, who chose to ignore the Coalition's calls earlier this year for him to travel post-haste to Washington and prostrate himself before President Donald Trump to secure Australia a tariff exemption, feels his judgment has been vindicated. Fresh from being re-elected with a historic majority, Albanese is in no mood to bow down to the Americans, especially when dislike (or at least distrust) of the current US administration aided Labor's victory. At present, Australia spends about 2 per cent of GDP on defence, or about $59 billion a year, and that figure will rise to 2.3 per cent by 2030. Going to 3.5 per cent would mean spending an extra $40 billion each year, approximately the annual cost of the entire NDIS. Delivering this would require significant tax rises or a big increase in federal borrowing – maybe both – and potentially swingeing cuts to the expanded social programs that Australians just voted for. Loading The prime minister's response on Monday was cautious, measured and a polite rejection of our closest ally's request. 'What you should do in defence is decide what you need, your capability, and then provide for it. That's what my government's doing ... we've provided an additional $10 billion of investment into defence over the forward estimates [four years],' he said. 'What we don't do is do what the opposition did during the election campaign, where they announced an amount of money, they couldn't say where the money was coming from and they couldn't say what it was for. That makes no sense.'
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukraine launches audacious drone attack; NDIS changes put families in crisis; Oscar Piastri wins Spanish GP
Good morning. Ukraine claims to have struck more than 40 warplanes at air bases deep inside Russia in a massive co-ordinated drone attack reportedly more than a year in the planning. Back home, we take a close look at the NDIS system, which is undergoing major changes that have left some families facing crisis amid the tumult of reform. And we can reveal that University of Melbourne students could be expelled over pro-Palestine demonstrations. Plus: McLaren's Oscar Piastri has stormed to victory at the Spanish F1 grand prix. NDIS funding | As the national disability insurance scheme undergoes massive changes, advocates say some participants have become collateral damage – placing their carers in impossible situations as their funding runs dry. Protest action | Two University of Melbourne students have been recommended for expulsion and two for suspension for their part in a pro-Palestine demonstration at the university's Parkville campus. Jaclyn Symes | Victoria's new treasurer tells Benita Kolovos why she's confident that cost-of-living pressures will soon ease – and why voters shouldn't be so spooked about the state's soaring debt. Election autopsy | The Greens lost three seats at the 2025 election, including Melbourne, the electorate of their former leader Adam Bandt. So, exactly how did it all go wrong for the Greens? Counting the cost | Six months of natural disasters and wild weather in 2025 have already cost the economy $2.2bn, largely in slower retail and household spending, according to new federal treasury analysis. Russia-Ukraine war | Ukraine has launched a 'large-scale' drone attack against Russian military bombers in Siberia, striking airfields thousands of kilometres from its own territory. Footage appears to show the attack on Russian planes. Gaza crisis | Dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire as they went to receive food at an aid distribution point set up by an Israeli-backed foundation in Gaza, according to witnesses; Greta Thunberg joins aid ship sailing to Gaza aimed at breaking Israel's blockade. Polish elections | Pro-European Rafał Trzaskowski has claimed victory over Karol Nawrocki in Poland's presidential election, but more than one exit poll has suggested the result is too close to call. Cancer research | Exercise can reduce the risk of cancer patients dying by a third, stop tumours coming back and is even more effective than drugs, according to the results of a landmark trial. 'It is unbearable' | Two people have died and hundreds have been arrested amid violence on the streets of France which marred Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League final victory. Greg Jericho says Labor's super tax reveals a system built for the rich The Albanese government wants to reduce the tax breaks for those with more than $3m in superannuation. Columnist Greg Jericho speaks with Reged Ahmad about why the media debate over a smaller tax break for Australia's wealthiest 0.5% is divorced from reality. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ The Newcastle to Sydney high-speed rail link is estimated to cost at least $30bn and would take well over a decade to build. The project has barely left the station, but already some experts say there may be a cheaper and easier way to do it – and are pointing to a US example of what can be achieved. Elias Visontay takes a look at two vastly different visions. In the latest of our Kindness of strangers series, we hear from a reader forever grateful to a pool lifeguard who placed a towel around her when her period started at the worst-possible moment. His intervention rescued a teenager's family holiday – and showed that even the smallest of acts can be the most impactful. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Motorsport | Australian driver Oscar Piastri (above) led a McLaren one-two to win the Spanish F1 Grand Prix as rival Max Verstappen paid the penalty for a moment of anger. AFL | Callan Ward turning heartbreak into inspiration sums up all that is wonderful about AFL, Jonathan Horn writes. Cycling | Britain's Simon Yates sealed a Giro d'Italia victory in Rome to notch up his second grand tour title. Tennis | Tommy Paul ended Alexei Popyrin's French Open run with a swift victory; Iga Swiatek staged a stunning comeback to beat Elena Rybakina to reach the quarter-finals. Athletics | Sprint sensation Lachie Kennedy broke the magical 10-second barrier for the 100m. New laws that could regulate the use of AI loom large as a critical workplace battleground for Labor, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. There are calls for increased health support for migrant workers as a new report reveals some women are hiding pregnancies and attempting home abortions, ABC News reports. The fine print in Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax bill could contain a nasty surprise for Australian super funds and investors, the Age reports. Victoria | The trial of Erin Patterson continues in Morwell. NSW | A public hearing is scheduled in NSW parliament on modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers. And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Kathy has terminal cancer and cares for her son with a profound disability. At a crisis point, his NDIS funding ran out
Next to the bed Steven Rieger spends most his life in is a framed print that says: 'This is my happy place.' For him, it is – his small room on the eastern outskirts of Melbourne is covered in Collingwood paraphernalia and basked in warm light. Steven, 37, needs round-the-clock care. He lives with cerebral palsy, is nonverbal and suffers from seizures – natural light can trigger them so he spends almost all of his time in his room. His parents are both in their 70s – his father Rodger has had several strokes and is partly deaf. His mother, Kathy, who has cared for him most of his life, is dying – her breast cancer has metastasised, spreading to her bones and brain. In March, the family lost their national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) funding, and Steven's paid carers felt obliged to work for free – the family could not cope by themselves. They had been overspending on their plan, but the family say they were underfunded for their care needs. When the money ran out they panicked. Steven's sister Kylie started a GoFundMe and Kathy rang their local member of parliament, Julian Hill. They have now been put on a plan that provides 10 hours of care a day, but they need more. 'It was almost three weeks where there was no funding,' Kathy says. 'The carers that do look after Steven were nice enough to still come in here, but they weren't getting paid. They were doing their normal shifts but without pay.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Advocates say participants have become collateral damage as the NDIS goes through massive changes, with many plans expiring and reviews dragging on. They say crucial funding is not getting where it needs to go. In January, Kathy had started preparing everything for the annual review of Steven's plan. As she was getting sicker she knew they needed to be funded for 15 hours of care a day. 'It was very stressful for me,' she says. 'I was getting things organised … and hoping the funding wouldn't run out, but it did. 'We started calling NDIS a few weeks before this funding was going to run out, and they said it wouldn't run out. They said they would escalate [the case] every time.' The family say they now owe around $15,000 to carers for the three weeks of work. Twice a day, Steven is lifted into a chair and fed through a drip. El Gibbs, CEO of the Disability Advocates Network Australia, says the NDIS is delaying plan renewals for so long, people run out of personal funds. 'We had a meeting a few weeks ago, and all our members reported a 50% or more increase in their waiting list for help with AAT [administrative appeals tribunal] appeals, where people with disability and their families are fighting for the support that they need,' Gibbs says. Under the changes, NDIS plans are meant to automatically continue if the review has not taken place yet. Because the Riegers were asking to increase Steven's care hours, their plan ran out. The last quarterly reports show an increase in participants taking their review decision to the AAT, with the number of new cases as a proportion of active participants increasing from 0.66% in the March 2023 quarter to 1.05% in the March 2025 quarter. Gibbs says the delays mean people in crisis are falling through the cracks, as is the case for the Riegers – Steven's funding running out while Kathy is dying worsens the family's situation. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'Our disability support system has to be able to meet them where they are,' Gibbs says. 'If a family goes through a crisis, and informal supports aren't there any more then, of course, the NDIS needs to step in and do it quickly and make sure a terrible situation isn't made harder.' Gibbs says vulnerable families should not be accruing debt to get the right care and the massive reforms to the NDIS need to be more clearly communicated. 'At the moment, the changes are often rushed and harsh, and the communication about them isn't clear to people with disability, to families, to support coordinators,' she says. 'So it is really hard for everyone to understand what is happening and to have a clear pathway about what comes next.' A spokesperson for the National Disability Insurance Agency said its priority was 'ensuring every participant, like Steven, has access to the disability-related supports they require'. 'The agency continues to work with Steven and his parents regarding his future needs. 'When a participant's circumstances change a request for an early plan reassessment can be requested. The agency cannot make decisions to change a participant's plan without being provided appropriate evidence.' Jenny McAllister, the minister for the NDIS, was contacted for comment. An occupational therapist report to possibly increase Steven's care to 15 hours a day is set for three weeks' time, but Kathy is struggling. 'I physically can't care for Steven any more,' she says. 'With extremely high needs like Steven's, there shouldn't be a review in their plan. They're not going to get better. There's no change. 'They're not going to wake up one day and go, 'Oh, hi Mum, I'm all good. I'm going to work now.''
Scoop
2 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Australia: PWDA Calls For Clarity And Inclusion Following Delays To Foundational Supports Rollout
Press Release – People with Disability Australia – PWDA PWDA welcomes the Governments ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable. People with Disability Australia, the national peak representative and advocacy body, is calling on the Federal Government to provide greater clarity and to consult more closely with people with disability, following the announcement that the rollout of foundational supports – scheduled to begin on 1 July 2025 – will be delayed. Foundational supports are designed for people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are especially relevant for Autistic children and people with psychosocial disability. The delay has created uncertainty in the community about when and how these essential supports will become available. PWDA President Trinity Ford said that while the disability community understands the complexity of implementing this reform, and the need to get it right from the start, it is critical that all people with disability are brought along and involved. 'Many people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS still have real and ongoing support needs,' Ms Ford said. 'These foundational supports will hopefully create a more inclusive and equal network of disability supports. But delays and uncertainty around the rollout's details, timelines and co-design means people with disability are still waiting – unsupported and without answers.' PWDA emphasises that early intervention and accessible community-based supports are key to improving long-term outcomes for people with disability, particularly those who have historically fallen through the cracks of service systems. 'We're calling on the Government to communicate transparently about next steps and to ensure people with lived experience of disability are at the centre of future planning,' Ms Ford said. 'It's vital that the design and rollout of these supports reflect the diversity of our community – including people with psychosocial disability, children with developmental concerns, and others who are not being serviced by the NDIS.' PWDA welcomes the Government's ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable.
