Nic Stuart
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Nic is a columnist with the Canberra Times. He has written 3 books on Australian politics and was a 2016 Churchill Fellow.
Articles by Nic Stuart
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Butler sets NDIS prices
The abilityNEWS Daily He’s now setting the prices (photo courtesy ABC) Yesterday, for the first time, the Minister issued the new schedule formalising June’s NDIS price guidance. A proposed split between registered and unregistered providers is still to come. The NDIA says the limits reflect its June guidance. Maximum prices apply to NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants. The immediate change is who makes the binding decision. Butler now holds the price-setting power.
Two deaths test safeguards
The abilityNEWS Daily Nancy White (image supplied by coroners court) Unsafe support and approved support that never began. Two terrible cases that expose the reality that existing systems still don’t provide safety. Yesterday’s Federal Court proceedings were launched by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. It’s taking action against provider Amicus Community Services and former support worker Georgina Knox after the 2021 death of Joanne Keogh.
Missing care after diagnosis
The abilityNEWS Daily image courtesy AIHW and University of Canberra Australia’s first national dementia survey exposes the issues: late diagnosis and patchy support, leaving families to navigate the path largely by themselves. A significant survey shows fewer than half of those living with dementia are diagnosed within a year of first noticing symptoms. But discovery of dementia - now the leading cause of death in Australia - is only the beginning of the problem.
NDIS savings begin
The abilityNEWS Daily The political promise was to sustain the scheme. But as the cuts begin to take effect the real test is whether the ‘integrity provisions’ are becoming another way of cutting people with disability out of ordinary life. Two decisive moves this week demonstrate clearly that the NDIS is changing. On Wednesday. the NDIA announced it would accept voluntary redundancies. Yesterday the agency also confirmed that some participant support budgets will be reduced from 1 October.
Home supports denied
The abilityNEWS Daily Before people can leave hospital, they need somewhere to go. But arguments over who should be responsible for funding disability accommodation are leading to crisis across the country as expensive hospital beds are filled by People with Disability. Almost incredibly, three men who are NDIS participants have remained at North West Regional Hospital in Burnie for three, four and five months, despite allied health professionals clearing them to leave.
NDIA opens redundancies
The abilityNEWS Daily The NDIA is now officially a shrinking organisation, restricting employment and inviting staff to leave. For the first time ever, the NDIA is offering voluntary redundancies. Chief executive Graeme Head has explained that staff employment now exceeds its budget. Recruitment has already been restricted to critical roles since July; however this now makes the new disability architecture transparently clear.
The numbers catch up
The abilityNEWS Daily The public record has moved to 30 June. It is a useful baseline but not an answer to what the reforms will do next. The NDIA has updated its public NDIS data, bringing the agency’s datasets, dashboards, quarterly-report supplements and Specialist Disability Accommodation demand data to 30 June 2026. The refreshed series now gives the sector a common starting point — and a way to test what changes once the new legislation and planning arrangements take effect.
Independence at risk
The abilityNEWS Daily Support helped April regain independence. Now cuts threaten it — and needs that cannot be seen face another barrier: being understood. The ABC reports despite specialist advice April Coulson’s funded physical therapy has fallen from six hours a week to two. She now fears losing her capacity to return to work following a spinal cord injury. The NDIA declines to discuss her case but insists it has considered all submitted evidence.
Who sharing NDIS secrets?
The abilityNEWS Daily NDIS participant information is being shared with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission through the 25-agency Fraud Fusion Taskforce that has used Palantir’s analytics platform, Guardian Australia reports. The NDIA previously denied using Palantir directly. It now confirms participant information is shared on a restricted basis where potential criminal conduct is suspected.
Who coordinates your support?
The abilityNEWS Daily A new way of co-ordinating support is coming. The real test is if the changes will help participants get the services they need. The government is ‘consulting’ about the commissioned support-coordination which will replace current arrangements from 1 July 2028. The consultation opened on 7 September; its final design supposedly remains undecided, although it’s understood a theoretical model has been chosen.
NDIS & disability news
The abilityNEWS Daily Sometimes advocacy works. On Monday, psychologists questioned whether the adapted I-CAN assessment was reliable enough to help set individual budgets. By Tuesday, government opened a one-month consultation on a diagnosis-neutral access process. Consistency may improve but won't create supports a rejected applicant needs.
Real people. Not blocked beds.
abilityNEWS Weekly — 4 September 2026 Governments trade blame as People with Disability are trapped in hospital — plus the week’s research, work, access and community news. ‘You can check out, but you can never leave’ - NDIS cases in Queensland Hospitals More than 1,400 Queenslanders were medically ready to leave hospital this week, but none did. Canberra and Brisbane each had a reason the other government should act. Queensland and Canberra have found a political fight both think they can win.
NDIS clients in the crossfire
The abilityNEWS Daily Image supplied by Queensland Health NDIS Bed Block People with disability remain trapped in Queensland hospitals while Canberra and Brisbane fight over who should get them out. Queensland and Canberra have found a fight both think they can win. People with disability are trapped in the middle. Queensland Health yesterday published statistics showing more than 1,400 people remain in public hospitals despite being ready to leave.
NDIS Bed Block
image courtesy Queensland Health People with disability remain trapped in Queensland hospitals while Canberra and Brisbane fight over who is responsible. Queensland and Canberra have found a fight both think they can win. People with disability are trapped in the middle. Queensland Health yesterday published statistics showing more than 1,400 people remain in public hospitals despite being ready to leave. About 300 of these are younger patients waiting for disability support.
Huge fine for banned provider
The abilityNEWS Daily A banning order is meant to remove risk. A Federal Court penalty shows the need for enforcement. The Daily Telegraph reports former Central Coast support coordinator Lynnette Peters has been fined $180,000 for deliberately breaching a two-year NDIS ban. The Commission’s public register confirms the ban began in 2025, prohibiting Peters from providing NDIS-funded services.
The new NDIS begins today
The abilityNEWS Daily The first provisions of the new NDIS laws take effect today. Not the wholesale eligibility change feared, but a change of focus from law-making to implementation. From 27 August, only a participant, nominee or child representative can request an unscheduled plan reassessment. The request must relate to a significant and continuing change in functional capacity, support needs or living arrangements, and the NDIA has 90 days to decide it.
NDIS reprieve for children
The abilityNEWS Daily Perhaps aware an election will fall due at a time many children could be kicked off the NDIS, Mark Butler is now guaranteeing they will remain eligible until the end of 2027. In an ABC Perth interview, the Health Minister said young children enrolled in the NDIS by the end of 2027 would be able to remain. Thriving Kids will not become the route for new young entrants until January 2028. That is more than a timetable detail.
The burden shifts home
The abilityNEWS Daily The relative quiet of the past weekend demonstrates emphatically that the political debate is, effectively, over. Those benefitting from the NDIS - which excluded many people with disability - are now beginning to grapple with a new world. Evidence published this morning shows the pressure families are already under. The Parenting Today survey compared almost 5,000 parents of children under nine, including 600 parents of children with disability.
New laws have landed
The abilityNEWS Daily What happened this week . . . Parliament passed the NDIS changes. It hasn’t resolved what these are. The week began with the Coalition attaching its support for Labor's NDIS overhaul to an unrelated tax concession. The numbers fell into place. The Senate passed the Bill with 63 amendments, but not any that either independents or advocates wanted. On Thursday, Parliament recorded royal assent. It is now Act 66 of 2026. The sequence matters.
What the NDIS changes mean
The abilityNEWS Daily Parliament has now passed laws permitting the most dramatic change ever to the NDIS. That story is now over complete. Over the coming year, abilityNEWS will focus on how this re-drafting of how the NDIS will be implemented. together with differing interpretations of what these changes actually mean, by politicians, the department, the NDIA, and us all! As we press send, the Bill is still awaiting Royal Assent. That’s a formality.
Day of Deals
The end of the NDIS [image: supplied] Labor secured Coalition support for its NDIS overhaul after agreeing to rush through an unrelated tax fix and accepting a package of amendments. The safeguards changed. The savings target and the government’s new power to cut support budgets did not. It was all about cost The final price of passing Labor’s NDIS bill had nothing to do with disability. The Coalition already supported slashing the Scheme.
NDIS changes 'irrevocably'
The abilityNEWS Daily Labor–Coalition deal passes NDIS cuts [image supplied] The NDIS overhaul passed through the Senate at 8pm last night, after an unrelated tax fix and 63 minor amendments. The savings target and power to cut support budgets will become law later today. The final price of passing Labor’s NDIS bill had nothing to do with disability. The Coalition already supported slashing the Scheme.
NDIS bargained away
The abilityNEWS Daily The Coalition has put a price on its support for Labor's NDIS bill — and it has nothing to do with disability policy. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor insists coalition support for the NDIS changes is conditional on the government removing what he calls a “widow tax” created by changes to the treatment of investment losses. The last-minute demand emerged as Labor tries to reduce NDIS spending by $37.8 billion over four years. The political deal is unsettled.
NDIS Senate review comes today
The abilityNEWS Daily NDIS change enters implementation phase Labor now believes it has a clear (political) pathway for reforming the NDIS. Amendments constitute safeguards. They introduce protections, particularly for people in hospital, institutions or homeless. If approved, an independent review would examine participant outcomes in 2029. But the accountability gap remains. Disability leaders used the National Press Club this week to argue that the scheme could be repaired without cutting support.
Final Senate Review
[Photo courtesy The Canberra Times] The Senate committee’s final NDIS Bill report is due later today, but at this point has not been tabled. abilityNEWS will carry a detailed report here as soon as it does, rather than attempt to pre-empt it.
Supported Independent Living
The abilityNEWS Daily Commissioning could redraw supported living The Australian Government is considering a complete re-vamp of Supported Independent Living, a change which would radically reform how the NDIS’s most intensive supports are bought and funded. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing opened a ‘consultation’ yesterday into possible ‘commissioning’ arrangements for those who need 24-hour support.
The real cost of NDIS Cuts
Greg Jericho [photo courtesy ABC] A new Australia Institute Paper points out simply taxing gas going overseas would more than pay for the entire NDIS. Labor’s decision to push ahead with these cuts represents a choice, not a necessity. Greg Jericho’s the Chief Economist for the Australia Institute. Although this is often described as a ‘left-wing think-tank’, there’s never been anything woolly, superficial or confused about his actual analysis.
A new way forward?
Speakers at the National Press club yesterday [image courtesy PWDA] Yesterday’s speech at the National Press Club condensed real warnings about the coming changes to the NDIS with a dramatic new proposal to make them work far better - for both the sector and the country. Yesterday’s National Press Club saw a dramatic call event for an independent NDIS inspector-general and an appeal mechanism for automated decisions from Aruma chief executive Martin Laverty.
NDIS warnings and positive ideas
The abilityNEWS Daily Speakers at the National Press Club yesterday [image courtesy PWDA] Yesterday’s speech at the National Press Club condensed real warnings about the coming changes to the NDIS with a dramatic new proposal to make them work far better - for both the sector and the country. Yesterday’s National Press Club saw a dramatic call event for an independent NDIS inspector-general and an appeal mechanism for automated decisions from Aruma chief executive Martin Laverty.
NDS Conference concludes today
The abilityNEWS Daily In Perth, the Senate is holding hearings into the new NDIS legislation, while the NDS Conference at Pyrmont in Sydney heard from Minister Tanya Plibersek yesterday, and continues today. Jobs assurance arrives as rights warnings sharpen The Federal Government has given disability employment providers one firm assurance while the human rights case for pausing its wider NDIS Bill has strengthened.
Computer says 'no'
The abilityNEWS Daily Lawyers demand the right to challenge NDIS automations The argument over automated NDIS decisions is now precisely focused. The issue is how a participant can challenge an error when automation produces a debt. The Daily Telegraph reports National Legal Aid told the Senate inquiry the Bill will expand automated decision-making but existing NDIS law does not provide a review right if debt is incorrectly raised. Its lawyers urged safeguards.
Your disability & NDIS News
The abilityNEWS Daily Integrity is not the whole reform case The Government now has concrete evidence of bad NDIS billing. An NDIA examination found 40 per cent of a sample involving about 10,000 providers included incorrect claims under the Other Professionals category. One provider received more than $1 million. The maximum hourly rate has since fallen from $194 to $156. This justifies concern and scrutiny, but does not settle the wider reform argument.
NDIS hearings begin, again
Committee Chair Elle Whiteaker [on left - photo supplied] The disability sector returned to Parliament House to explain why Labor’s latest NDIS Bill is dangerous, uncertain and unfinished. Senators listened respectfully. Yet the absence of Coalition Senators offers the clearest indication that, whatever amendments emerge, the Bill itself is likely to pass. The long hallways of Parliament House are usually empty at this time of year. Politicians are in the middle of their long winter break.
The empty chairs tell the story
The abilityNEWS Daily Committee Chair Senator Elle Whiteaker [on left - photo supplied] The disability sector returned to Parliament House to explain why Labor’s NDIS Bill is dangerous, uncertain and unfinished. Senators listened respectfully. Yet the absence of Coalition Senators in the room offers the clearest indication that whatever amendments emerge, the Bill itself is likely to pass. The long hallways of Parliament House are usually empty at this time of year.
Senate NDIS hearings begin
The abilityNEWS Daily The NDIS Bill is drafted, but today’s hearings will test if the government is willing to listen to positive suggestions to improve it. The NDIS Bill inquiry moves from submissions to witnesses Bottom line: The Senate inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Future Planning) Bill begins a public hearing in Canberra today. Parliament lists live coverage from 9am to 5pm, although the official hearing program was still marked “TBC” early this morning.
NDIS reform concerns
The abilityNEWS Daily Reform warnings move onto the official record Officials are preparing four sets of rules covering support-needs assessments, budgets, funded supports and plan variations. Committee members questioned the reliability of assessment tools, the handling of complex and intersecting needs, access to specialist evidence and the relationship between impairment notices, eligibility and assessment.
Averaging towards the mean
AI in the NDIS [Mick Barrett] AI experts are warning that automated planning risks pushing the NDIS towards a search for the average. They say that’s a problem, because there’s no average participant.
Urgent need for brain-health
Brain Injury courtesy Brain Injury Australia A series of disconnected hospitals, specialists, rehabilitation and services is not a system. Brain Injury Australia wants a national brain-health strategy to create a network of care. Australia’s brain-health strategy is missing the connections Australia has a national plan for dementia. It has a Parkinson’s action plan. It has strategies for cancer and mental health. It has no plan for the brain.
Your abilityNEWS Daily
The abilityNEWS Daily Bottom line: The government’s revised Explanatory Memorandum provides a reassuring safeguard for current participants. National Disability Services says that sector pressure has achieved an important clarification of the way Ministerial determinations reducing support funding will work. Although employment supports can still be carved out, supports essential to health, safety or continuous 24/7 care will normally be protected from future reductions.
Your NDIS and disability news
The abilityNEWS Daily Bottom line: Pauline Hanson’s unsupported claims linking NDIS fraud to religion and immigration became a national political story. Health Minister Mark Butler rejected Hanson’s allegation. The ABC reported that culturally and linguistically diverse communities are actually under-represented in the Scheme rather than over-represented. The NDIS debate was rapidly pulled into a discriminatory argument about migration and religion.
Autism pays for NDIS reform
The abilityNEWS Daily Weekly intelligence signals: The argument has shifted from the size of the NDIS cuts to who is likely to be removed. Autistic participants, people with developmental delay and younger people are at the centre of the contraction rather than incidental consequences of reform. Of the projected 241,000 participant exits by June 2031, 144,600 are expected to have autism or developmental delay as their primary disability and 154,240 aged 18 or younger.
Timeline for NDIS reform set
The abilityNEWS Daily There is now a timeline: The government has now put dates around the current phase of reform. Individual participant budgets will begin resetting within three months, from 1 October. New framework planning will start on 1 April next year, and new access criteria and reassessments come into force from 1 January 2028. Why this matters: The steamroller is moving. As far as government is concerned, the argument has shifted from whether reform will occur to its implementation.
Is there room for AI in the NDIS?
The abilityNEWS Daily AI in the NDIS Summit - supplied image produced by AI Artificial intelligence is no longer a future issue for Australia’s disability sector and the AI in the NDIS Summit has been designed to help providers respond with practical action. NDIS providers are under pressure from workforce shortages, compliance demands, tighter margins and rising expectations around participant outcomes. In this environment, AI quickly becomes an operational question rather than a theoretical one.
AI in the NDIS
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future issue for Australia’s disability sector and the AI in the NDIS Summit has been designed to help providers respond with practical action. NDIS providers are under pressure from workforce shortages, compliance demands, tighter margins and rising expectations around participant outcomes. In this environment, AI quickly becomes an operational question rather than a theoretical one.
All your NDIS news
The abilityNEWS Daily Bottom line: This week’s NDIS intelligence appears to be implementation-heavy. Even though the new NDIS bill remains under the shadow of extended scrutiny by the Senate, government is ploughing on behind the scenes with preparations to implement the changes. Why this matters: Participants and providers now face practical change. One example is STA claims.
NDIS and disability news
The abilityNEWS Daily Bottom line: The functional-capacity Technical Advisory Group now has its published three-stage remit (which can be accessed below) and held its first meeting. Why this matters: Its recommendations will be key to decisions on who gains access to the NDIS and how difficult the application process becomes, but this is the key to understanding its job.
First Nations NDIS Resource
The abilityNEWS Daily Bottom line: The important move today is First Nations Connect — a new dedicated NDIS support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families, representatives, health workers and community organisations. Call 1800 411 640. Why this matters: This is both a practical cultural-safety measure and a significant policy signal. The government is not just arguing about who should receive individual NDIS funding.
Wednesday 8 July,
The abilityNEWS Daily Bottom line: Today’s signal is implementation with no new set-piece announcements. The department’s moving the Act into public-facing explanation (including Auslan), while the NDIA has released an employment-provider recruitment guide. Mark Butler’s Tasmanian transcripts show Thriving Kids remains a live issue for participants. Why this matters: The integrity package is now being translated into practical compliance and participant-safety messages.
AFL’s fatal link to head injury
Lalor Reserve (photo courtesy ABC News/Costa Haritos) Nathan Fitzgerald’s death was a freak accident. It was also football. The question is not whether anyone meant harm. It is whether Australian Rules is doing enough to stop deadly brain injury killing players, quickly or slowly. Nathan Fitzgerald died playing football. That’s a simple sentence. It is also the one the game is struggling to absorb.
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