Treasurer Jim Chalmers Urges Coalition to Explain Plan to Cut NDIS

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The federal Opposition has clarified it has no policy to cut spending on the National Disability Insurance Scheme after Treasurer Jim Chalmers urged the coalition to “come clean” on its plans for the scheme.

On Sunday, Opposition finance spokesperson Jane Hume said spending on the scheme had “run out of control” and suggested the party could look to tighten its growth if it won government.

“The NDIS, for instance, is one of those areas in the budget that has run out of control; it was growing at 14 per cent per annum,” she said.

“It’s been brought back to around eight per cent … but it’s been brought under control somewhat. We think that there’s more that can be done.”

Asked if the Coalition had a target in mind for NDIS growth levels, she said: “The most important thing … is in the long term that all government spending doesn’t grow faster than the economy itself.”

A woman with shoulder length dark hair and wearing a light pink jacket is talking

Opposition finance spokesperson Jane Hume said on Sunday spending on the NDIS had “run out of control”. Source: AAP / aap

The nation’s economy is forecast to grow by 2-3 per cent each year over the next four years.

In November, a report from the NDIA — the body that administers the NDIS — found the scheme was on track to meet the target of eight per cent spending growth in the four years to 2028, set by former NDIS minister Bill Shorten.

In an interview with SBS News ahead of the , Chalmers said Labor would not match any proposed cuts.

He said the Opposition should clarify its plans for the NDIS and how it would affect Australians with disabilities.

“They make these announcements on the run, and then they typically don’t come clean on what that means for Australians with a disability,” he said.

“They need to come clean to Australians with a disability about what that means for the services that they need and deserve.”

Later on Sunday, a spokesperson for Hume said she was speaking about government spending as a whole, not the NDIS specifically.

“The opposition does not have a policy to reduce NDIS spending in line with economic growth, and is not advocating cutting NDIS spending to 2 to 3 per cent,” the spokesperson said in a statement to SBS News.

Labor says $5000 cost to return to office

The too much, saying they would force workers back to the office.

Labor estimates transport and parking would cost workers about $5000 a year if they had to return to the office five days a week, up from three.

The cost is based on estimates people would spend an extra two hours a week in the car, or just under 100 extra hours a year, with commuters driving an average of just over an hour in the car to get to and from work.

New era of ‘global economic uncertainty’

In the wide-ranging interview, the treasurer also discussed new international challenges to Australia’s economy, and said Australians .

Chalmers said Australia would be getting more clarity about trade policies from its major trading partner the United States, as , and said the world had entered a new era of uncertainty.

When asked about the potential for US President Donald Trump to zero in on Australia’s highly lucrative iron ore exports to China Chalmers said: “it remains to be seen whether the Americans go down that path”.

He played down the likelihood of Australia filling the huge gap in global aid made by Donald Trump’s decision to slash US aid programs.

Cost of living relief to help vulnerable

Chalmers said support for young people and others struggling with cost-of-living relief would be prioritised.

“We know that cost of living pressures are front of mind for people, and that’s why cost of living is front and centre in this budget,” he said.

He said the budget would recognise “the pressures in our economy and in our society do fall disproportionately.

“That’s why there’s been a focus on the most vulnerable.”

The government announced on their electricity bills.

The coalition will support the new rebate but pledged to bring down power prices without government subsidies, with the election to be fought largely on cost of living pressures.

With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.