Butler welcomes debate on $52B NDIS future

Health Minister Mark Butler has formally welcomed a growing debate regarding the fiscal sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which is now valued at $52 billion.

Speaking on April 10, Butler declined to rule out the introduction of means testing for high-income families, despite noting that co-contributions have never previously been a feature of the scheme.

The minister's comments follow calls from Labor backbenchers to tighten eligibility requirements as annual costs continue to surge by more than 10%.

"Some of its spending is out of control and it needs to be managed," Butler stated, adding that he encouraged colleagues to put various "ideas on the table" to ensure the scheme remains manageable for the long term.