Word from The Hill: Major review of NDIS, as government reveals multi-billion dollar cost blowout

As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.

In this podcast, Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn canvass next week’s budget, delivered in grim times for many households and set to slash Coalition programs, making room to implement the Albanese government’s priorities.

On Tuesday the government announced a review of the NDIS, with minister Bill Shorten revealing that between the March budget and now, its projected cost over the next four years has blown out by $8.8 billion. This would bring the scheme’s annual cost to about $50 billion by 2025-26.

The comprehensive review will be led by Bruce Bonyhady, an architect of the scheme, and former senior federal public servant Lisa Paul. It will examine the NDIS’s design, operation and sustainability, as well as how to make it more supportive and responsive for those it assists.

Meanwhile, media reporting this week has exposed rorting and waste in Medicare, although the extent of the problem is disputed, including by the government.

Amanda and Michelle also discuss the new ten-year national plan to address violence against women and children, with its aspiration of ending this violence in one generation.