National Disability Insurance Scheme

France argued that structural changes were necessary to address fraud and ensure the scheme's sustainability, noting that previous management lacked basic compliance controls. France cited an example of excessive billing for short trips to illustrate the need for pricing discipline. France emphasised that the government was working to fix systemic issues while protecting the lifeline of support for participants.

Birrell raised concerns about the timing and substance of the pricing changes, particularly their impact on small businesses in regional Australia. Birrell argued that cutting travel supports would reduce access to services for rural clients, who often rely on providers travelling to them. Birrell supported the call for a three-month deferral to allow for consultation and to assess the unintended consequences on regional service delivery.

Clutterham explained that the updated travel rules were designed to provide clear cost expectations and encourage efficient scheduling by providers. Clutterham noted that therapy providers could claim half the price limit for travel time, while non-labour costs remained claimable. Clutterham stated that remote loadings remained unchanged and that the government was trialling new service delivery methods for remote communities.

Landry argued that the changes broke the promise of equitable support for regional Australians, citing specific constituents who feared losing essential therapy services. Landry claimed that the cuts made it financially unsustainable for providers to serve remote areas, potentially leading to service withdrawal. Landry called for a three-month deferral to consult with providers and ensure vulnerable Australians were not left without support.

Byrnes acknowledged concerns from local providers and stated that she had engaged with the NDIA to ensure consultation was occurring. Byrnes reported that the NDIA would release a three-year work plan to help providers prepare for changes and that $45 million was invested in pilot programs for therapy pricing. Byrnes emphasised the importance of dialogue between participants, providers, and the agency to achieve sustainable outcomes.

McCormack criticised the government's management of the NDIS, citing constituents who had lost access to allied health services due to travel funding cuts. McCormack argued that the changes disproportionately affected regional Australians and that providers were being forced to absorb costs or cease services. McCormack called for the government to address the issues facing vulnerable people in rural and remote areas.

Campbell defended the NDIS as a critical institution that required financial sustainability to remain viable for future generations. Campbell noted that cost projections showed significant growth, necessitating rigorous pricing reviews to ensure fairness and transparency. Campbell stated that the annual review process involved assessing millions of transactions to ensure participants were not overcharged compared to other sectors.