Australian Government Federal Budget 2018-2019

The 2018-19 Federal Budget commits $43 billion of Commonwealth money over the next four years. This ensures people with disability in Australia can access the support they need. This is just over half the $83.2 billion total cost of the scheme over this period, consistent with the Commonwealth’s share.
Over the coming year, state and territory governments will benefit from the transfer of almost $3.4 billion from the DisabilityCare Australia Fund. This Fund was established in 2014 to assist governments to implement the NDIS and currently holds more than $10 billion.
The budget provides $64.3 million over three years to establish an NDIS Jobs and Market Fund. This includes awareness raising of NDIS job opportunities, support to overcome market barriers, strategies to address service difficulties in rural and remote areas and support for businesses build their capacity. The new Fund will shift focus from assisting providers with NDIS transition to stimulating growth and investment. Grants will assist providers to take advantage of NDIS opportunities.
The Budget projects a continuation of in-kind supports into full scheme. Negotiations are underway with state and territory governments for full scheme agreements.
Staffing for the NDIA will increase by 540 people in the year ahead to 3000 full time equivalent staff.
Funding of $43 million over 3 years to establish national and regional offices of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Continuity of Care:

The Department of Social Services will establish additional continuity of support arrangements at a cost of $92 million over five years to ensure ongoing services for people currently receiving support who are ineligible for the NDIS. There are five key areas:
The programs Better Start, Helping Children with Autism, Work-Based Personal Assistance, Remote Hearing and Vision Services for Children, Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker Program, Australian Disability Enterprises, and Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers will cease mid-2019. People receiving support from these programs who are ineligible for the NDIS will have access to funding to enable them to continue to receive assistance.
People who are 65 years and over, not an NDIS participant and need access to Auslan will have continued access to the Auslan Booking Service.
The Mobility Allowance will cease in mid-2020. People receiving it at that time (who are not NDIS-eligible) will be grandfathered and continue to receive it but there will be no new recipients.
People receiving assistance from Partners in Recovery, Personal Helpers and Mentors, and Day to Day Living support will continue to do so through arrangements being put in place with Primary Health Networks.
Four carers programs will be incorporated into the Integrated Carer Support Services (see more information below).

Ten million dollars over two years will be provided to some Disability Employment Services (DES) providers to assist with the transition to the new DES program (see here for more information on the new DES program: https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/programmes-services/disability-employment-services).
Five hundred thousand has been set aside for further consultation during 2018-2019 to develop a new model for supported employment, enabling a smooth transition to the NDIS and ensuring that the new model is consistent with NDIS principles.

The Budget projects a 2.3% decline in expenditure on Disability Support Pension (DSP). This continues a trend which has seen the number of DSP recipients fall by over 70,000 since 2014.
The Government is extending the trial of the Cashless Debit Card program until
30 June 2019 in communities in South Australia and Western Australia.
DSP recipients in prison will have their pension withdrawn after 13 weeks rather than after two years.
Carers Allowance will be means-tested for the first time, with the government setting a $250,000 income test threshold.
Measures to detect welfare fraud will be increased. It is estimated the government will save $299 million over 2018-2019. The extended debt recovery activities will focus on high value debts and people no longer receiving welfare payments and include data matching between the Department of Human Services and the ATO. Other measures include making compulsory deductions from welfare payments of serial fine defaulters who have outstanding court debts and suspending or cancelling payments for people with outstanding arrest warrants.
Increasing the waitlist for newly arrived migrants for certain benefits to four years from 1 July 2018.
Spending $316 million over 4 years to streamline Centrelink’s technology platform and streamline the delivery of payments.

Targeted tax relief of up to $530 per annum will be delivered to middle and lower income earners through a new tax offset for the next four years.

The Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is guaranteed through the Medicare Guarantee Fund. A payment of $35.3 billion will be made to the fund to meet estimated expenditure for 2018-2019. This budget includes $1.4 billion for new and amended listings on the PBS including medicines to treat spinal muscular atrophy, breast cancer, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and a new medicine to prevent HIV.

Providing further support for Australians with mental illness including providing $338 million to Lifeline Australia to enhance its telephone crisis services and finding for Beyond Blue and Way Back Support Service.

A National Energy Guarantee was announced which focuses on ensuring electricity supply and putting downward pressure on energy prices. The Government states this will save the average Australian household $400.00 a year on energy costs.

The money saved from means testing the Carers Allowance will be directed to an Integrated Carer Support Service consisting of early intervention for carers including peer support, counselling, coaching and access to educational resources. Regional Delivery Partners will link carers to local services such as needs assessment, information and advice and crisis support. This initiative will receive $113.3 million over five years.

Epilepsy Action Australia will be funded $1.3 million over three years to establish a national Epilepsy Action Response Service, providing information and expertise on epilepsy, especially in rural and remote areas.