NDIS Participants to Lose Support Amid Cuts
Professionals Australia has accused the Albanese Government of using rhetoric around “fraud” and “rorts” to justify removing 160,000 people from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) while ignoring larger savings opportunities in Medicare.
The organisation questions why the government has not pursued significant savings in Medicare, where fraud, waste, and incorrect claims are estimated to cost up to $8 billion annually. This contrasts with the projected $15 billion savings over four years from NDIS cuts.
According to Sarah Moran, a Newcastle-based speech pathologist, “The government’s focus on fraud will disproportionately affect disabled Australians, who are at risk of losing essential services and therapy.”
Impact of NDIS Cuts
Medicare fraud is thought to account for 25 to 30 per cent of its $31 billion annual expenditure. Reducing this to 6 per cent, the proposed benchmark for NDIS, could save $8 billion each year.
Sam Roberts, CEO of Professionals Australia, stated, “The government should apply the same integrity standards across the entire health system, emphasizing that targeting NDIS participants is a choice made at the expense of those with the most need.”
Brisbane-based speech language pathologist Carolyn Wetherby highlighted that the changes would not only impact fraudulent actors but also reduce access to legitimate support services, resulting in longer waitlists.
No one is defending fraud. Fraud should be identified, prosecuted, and eliminated wherever it occurs. However, the government’s case depends on conflating a crackdown on bad actors with measures that will harm vulnerable citizens.
Despite investments in NDIS compliance and fraud prevention, the government has not shown the same dedication to address Medicare inefficiencies. Professionals Australia argues that disabled communities should not bear the brunt of budget repair while Medicare savings remain underexplored.
Reported estimates suggest Medicare fraud, waste, and incorrect claims could be as high as 25 to 30 per cent. On annual spending of around $31 billion, reducing this to the same 6 per cent benchmark proposed for the NDIS could deliver savings of up to $8 billion each year.
Professionals Australia notes there has been no comparable urgency from the government, no equivalent public campaign, and no sign it has seriously pursued those options before moving to force 160,000 people off the scheme.
Last updated: 25 April 2026, 9:57 am
