The government’s NDIS spend is tipped to overtake that of Medicare as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirms more funding will be injected into the program ahead of his budget speech tonight. The cost of the scheme last financial year was $17.2 billion, while just nine months into this financial year the bill has already reached 16.7 billion.
The total cost is expected to grow to $26 billion in the next financial year and then further to $30 billion by 2024-2025 – compared to Medicare which at this stage is expected to cost $31 billion. The added costs were sourced to a greater number of people subscribing to the program, and an increase in the average payment in previous years. Mr Frydenberg confirmed the additional funding boost during a media conference this morning, saying NDIS “is a wonderful program, it’s made a profound change to the lives of Australians with disabilities and their families”. “Under the Coalition,the NDIS will always be fully funded,” he said.