Major change coming to NDIS - and one service is on the chopping block (2024)

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says regulations that allow participants to access government-funded sex workers will be scrapped, saying it 'doesn't pass the test' for a service that is reasonable or necessary.

Appearing on Sky Sunday Agenda, Mr Shorten said while most NDIS participants were 'doing the right thing,' he conceded the 'rules have been a bit loose at the margins'.

In turn, this has led to service providers rorting the system, allowing people to claim services such as international group trips to Japan, steam rooms and cryptocurrency.

'The way the scheme works is you get a personal budget. We want to make sure that you get your personal budgets done with a good needs assessment,' he said.

'Then what we want to do is make sure that you've got the ability to get things that are reasonable and necessary.

'Part of me sort of groans whenever I've got to go through some of the rubbish that some people have claimed, but that's not what most people are doing.'

Asked specifically about whether participants could continue to claim the use of sex workers under the proposed new reforms, Mr Shorten ruled it out.

'It's just not a sustainable proposition. It just doesn't pass the test,' he said.

However, he added the government was only aware of 'one or two' examples of it happening.

'It's not what's happening in most of the scheme,' Mr Shorten said.

'While people with disabilities are currently able to access government-funded sexual support services, strict eligibility requirements apply.'

Previously, disability advocates told a senate inquiry that the NDIS should include a sexuality framework with women with disabilities choosing not to date out of fear of being exposed to high rates of sexual violence.

'Even though I could date on Tinder, it was toxic, and it was violent, and it was volatile, and if I hadn't met my partner, I would be looking to have access (to sex support) because it was not safe to continue to date men in the community,' said People With Disabilities president Nicole Lee.

Mr Shorten remained on the warpath after the Coalition and the Greens stalled passing major reforms for a further eight weeks, with the legislation to be subjected to an inquiry.

Labor has said its NDIS reforms will save $14.4bn over the next five years, and will focus on tightening rules around services and expand safeguards and assessment criteria on people accessing the scheme.

The disgruntled minister has claimed the delay will cost taxpayers $1m an hour, until parliament resumes sitting following the midwinter break.

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said the opposition won't be 'bullied' into rushing the decision and said the inquiry was needed to hear more evidence.

'It's really fascinating that Labor expects the opposition and the parliament to back their so-called reforms without any level of scrutiny. We've sensibly sent this to a senate inquiry to flesh out the issues,' she told Sky.

'As soon as that has been completed and we've heard from not just the sector but clients … then maybe we'll be developing our own amendments to that legislation. This is how parliament should work.'

Mr Shorten continued his campaign to pass the legislation in parliament last week, launching a roving billboard with the sign: 'Save the NDIS, put participants first, senators'.

Labor and One Nation also became unlikely allies, with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson supporting the legislation and urged senators to 'put your politics aside'.

'I'm calling on the Coalition and the Greens, if you really care about the people out there … put your put your complaint forward, put your amendments forward, and then if they're reasonable, I'm sure that we can support it because that's what we want,' she said.

Japan