The overhaul will reassess current participants against new eligibility criteria and remove those not originally intended for the scheme to protect funding and sustainability.

Opposition voices, including a senior Nationals figure, criticize the current design and back reform, citing earlier warnings about rising costs.

Legislation aims to reduce eligibility and overall size, cutting participants from about 760,000 to roughly 600,000, with costs expected to fall from about $70 billion to $50 billion per year by 2030.

The minister argues the NDIS’s future hinges on cost control, framing reform as essential to preserve the scheme for people with disability in the years ahead.

The interview outlines long-standing concerns about rorts and organized crime, detailing steps like tougher checks, a digital payments system, and stronger oversight to ensure funds reach legitimate recipients.

Both sides acknowledge reform will require collaboration with states and ongoing political negotiation, with a focus on delivering practical improvements rather than avoiding change.

As part of the changes, independent living providers must register by July 1 and adopt a digital payments system to curb rorts and improve funding transparency, with claims evidence a concern.

The minister insists the overhaul is necessary to secure the NDIS’s future and should be implemented in partnership with states, territories, and the disability community, not dumped on governments.

The health minister contends the NDIS drifted from its original intent and must be reined in to curb inflation and rorting.

The exact number of people affected by eligibility changes remains fluid as tools are designed, but the aim is to align the scheme with its original purpose.

The overhaul seeks to save about $35 billion by 2030 and cap annual cost growth at two percent while limiting participants to around 600,000.

A dedicated digital payment system will provide a clear line of sight to every dollar, addressing concerns about waste and misuse.