Today in Budget Estimates, Abigail pressed the NSW Treasurer on the Federal Government’s shocking announcement of further changes to the NDIS, apparently made without any consultation with States and Territories.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Good morning, Treasurer. I wanted to talk to you about this week's shocking announcement about further NDIS cuts, which have left people with disability feeling again like a political football and a scapegoat. Yesterday health Minister Ryan Park told us that your Government would not be picking up the bill for the Commonwealth's new program—this Thriving Kids program. But, on the same day, the Premier was quoted as saying that New South Wales, of course, will do its bit. What is New South Wales's position when it comes to that Thriving Kids program?
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY (NSW Treasurer): Ms Boyd, it's a very good question. The short answer is that we want to see a lot more detail on what the Commonwealth is asking us to do, in large part because caring for those with a disability is a Commonwealth responsibility, for good reason.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Could I ask you why you think that?
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: Sorry, it's not an exclusive Commonwealth responsibility. I take your point...
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Some 86 per cent of Australians with disability are not on the NDIS and don't have NDIS plans. The NDIS review was very clear that it felt that, after the NDIS was established, the States and Territories had assumed that the Commonwealth would take more responsibility than in fact the NDIS was set up
to achieve. As a result, the States and Territories pulled back on their spending and their efforts to create more inclusive and accessible State programs and State infrastructure, particularly within schools and in other areas. Part of the reason for the NDIS review and recommendations was to try and get States and Territories to take back their fair share of responsibility for people with disability. You were quoted after this week's round table as saying that you believe that spending on the NDIS should be brought down. Do you accept, though, that that means, from a State perspective, the State Government is going to have to start doing more for people with disability?
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: ... I well and truly respect that there are a lot of disability advocates who share that view that you put through in that question. ... I do expect that the States will be doing more contributions when it comes to ensuring that people with a disability are supported, and that is both through the contributions that we make to the NDIS—which I point out we do contribute to. We are increasing our contribution to the NDIS, in line with the agreements that were established at the NDIS at the time. Yes, I do accept your point that States are going to need to spend more, particularly when it comes to schools as well. We are assuming that is going to be a prime contribution we will make. What we are arguing for is for the Commonwealth to recognise that contribution, and also for us to specify and to get to national consistency about what that contribution actually is. Whilst you're very right to say that most people with a disability are not supported by the NDIS, I think that the debate is about those people who are currently supported by the NDIS who might not be after the Federal Government changes the eligibility standards, and whether or not States can step in to provide what are characterised as foundational supports.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: There are a couple of things going on here. There was already a lot of confusion about the foundational supports, and there seems to have been pushback from the States and Territories on the rollout. We heard from the Disability Minister earlier this week in estimates that they would not be accepting cuts to the NDIS until those foundational supports had been agreed. Again, are you supporting Minister Park's comments yesterday that New South Wales won't be putting in money for this new Thriving Kids program?
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: Ms Boyd, if you don't mind, I will give you a response, but I have to take a bit of that on notice, because I didn't see Minister Park's evidence. I was in a round table yesterday. I don't know if I understand the full context, but I understand in the conversations that I've been having with Minister
Park about this—to be fair to Minister Park, I think the point he's making is about the other side of all of this, which is the health agreement. What I do say in support very strongly of the point that Minister Park has made, and that I have also made, is that there is an interaction between the health agreement and the disability agreement. For us to take a position on our contribution to the Thriving Kids program, we need to know what's being offered on the health side.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: He was very clear. He said that his Government would not be picking up the bill for the Commonwealth's new program.
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: I'm not going to parse Minister Park's language, but I'll simply make the point that we need to see the Commonwealth's health offer in order for us to determine our position on what we can contribute to the Thriving Kids position.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Did the Thriving Kids announcement take you by surprise? Were you consulted?
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: Personally, I was not consulted.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Were any of the States and Territories consulted?
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: I don't know, is the answer to that, Ms Boyd. As the Federal Disability Minister has made clear, this has been the subject of some conversation with disability Ministers but, to be fair, the broad answer to your question is no. The proper description of what's now termed "Thriving Kids" was announced on Wednesday.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Does it strike you as unusual that it wasn't raised with the States and Territories before it was announced, given that it requires substantial funding?
The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY: It's not for me to characterise that, other than to say that we obviously are looking forward to the Commonwealth providing us with more detail about their intentions for foundational supports through their Thriving Kids program...
22 August 2025