Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out means-testing the National Disability Insurance Scheme, reaffirming the programme's commitment to universality despite its ballooning $55.1 billion price tag.
While Health Minister Mark Butler previously suggested the proposal was under discussion, the Prime Minister quashed the idea, insisting that eligibility must remain focused on a person’s disability rather than their financial status.
However, Albanese conceded that the scheme—which has more than doubled in cost since 2021—requires urgent reform to remain sustainable.
With children, particularly those with developmental delays or autism, now accounting for 44% of participants, the government aims to rein in annual growth from 10% to below 6% through yet-to-be-announced measures and the new 'Thriving Kids' programme.
Concurrently, the government is flagging a significant overhaul of housing tax concessions to address intergenerational equity in the upcoming May 12 budget.
Albanese refused to rule out restricting negative gearing or capital gains tax discounts, noting that Treasury is examining options such as limiting deductions to new-build homes or capping the number of investment properties per taxpayer.
The domestic reform push coincides with a diplomatic "fuel blitz" across Southeast Asia.
Following a security agreement in Singapore, the prime minister is travelling to Malaysia and Brunei to secure petrol and diesel supplies.