NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says he is “hopeful” the Senate will pass a Bill get the $44bn national disability scheme “back on track” within the next fortnight. Initially introduced in March this year, the legislation became stuck in the upper house after the Coalition and Greens teamed up to delay its vote until after the five-week midwinter break. Appearing on Sky News on Friday, Mr Shorten said he was “positive,” albeit not 100 per cent certain, that the opposition would work with the government to pass the Bill in its current form.
Prior to the midwinter break, Mr Shorten went on the warpath over the two-month voting delay, saying it would cost taxpayers $1bn. “The Senate is the master of its own destiny, if it makes amendments, then they’ll have to come back to the (House of Representatives) but if we all focus on the best interests of participants and getting rid of the rorts, then I think we will get there,” he said. The legislation aims to help the government taper ballooning costs of the $44bn-a-year scheme, with goals to curb its growth by $14.
4bn over four years, limiting its growth to $1.5bn-a-year. However, the proposed Bill has been criticised for offering limited detail and specifics on how the spending cuts will be achieved.
While the Bill will most likely face further amendments from the Coalition and the Greens, Mr Shorten described himself as a “political optimist,” and was hopeful the legislation will be passed within the next two week.