TV interview with Minister McAllister, ABC Afternoon Briefing – 26 November 2025
Media event date: 26 November 2025 Date published: 18 August 2026 Media type: General public PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: Jenny McAllister, welcome to the program. JENNY MCALLISTER: PATRICIA KARVELAS: You've introduced legislation to increase the fines on providers who kill or seriously injure NDIS participants, but the bulk of the providers are still unregistered.
Why will this have an impact then? JENNY MCALLISTER: We've been really careful to make sure that the new aggravated offences apply for all providers and it's a really significant intervention. We want this scheme to remain a disability support scheme, not a get-rich-quick scheme and that means taking a series of steps to improve the integrity and the safety of the scheme.
And this is part of that. PATRICIA KARVELAS: So how often is this happening? JENNY MCALLISTER : Look, we are concerned about some of the things we've uncovered.
When we came to government, there was very little investment indeed in detecting fraud or malpractice. We have lifted the number of staff, both at the agency and at the regulatory commission, as well as invested in the computer systems of both places. And what that's showing us, is that there is a level of fraud.
Now, most providers are doing exactly the right thing, doing their very best to provide good supports. But where we see sharp practise our concern, of course, is that it will lead to harm. And that's what this bill is designed to address.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: OK, so in terms of the fines, how hefty are they to try and have a consequence on providers? JENNY MCALLISTER : Well, in some instances we are lifting the fines, the maximum fine available, by 40 times what it was previously. So the maximum fine for aggravated offences could be as high as $15 million depending on the activities and the circumstances.
We're also lifting the criminal penalties that are available, including jail time. So for example, criminal penalties will now be available for a person who continues to work in the sector, even after they've been slapped with a banning order. PATRICIA KARVELAS: OK and in terms of implementation and compliance, compliance is obviously the most important part.
You can have laws, but they're unenforceable if you're not, you know, really policing this system. How do you know this will work? JENNY MCALLISTER: It's why we've lifted the capacity of the Commission so significantly.
More staff, a much better data and analytics capability and I'm really pleased to see the number of banning orders lifting very significantly in recent years. As I say, most providers, doing a great job trying to help the people that they are working with. For those people operating fraudulently at the sharp end of the spectrum, our message to them is they need to stop this and we will find them.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: When is the Government going to formally respond to the provider registration report? It's obviously, we've been waiting, I've asked you before, is it getting close? JENNY MCALLISTER: Look, this is a really important issue and it is a complex set of policy offerings, essentially recommendations from the taskforce.
I don’t have an update for you about timing but we are very conscious about the significance of this work. PATRICIA KARVELAS: Are you getting a lot of pressure on this because we've certainly here at the ABC spoken to many who are concerned about the length it's taking to see a response here. JENNY MCALLISTER: I think I would see it as part of a continuum of things we need to do to lift accountability for providers in the sector.
That includes lifting our capacity to detect and enforce poor and fraudulent practise, increasing these fines and penalties, as we are doing today. But this is a very high priority of work for me as the Minister. PATRICIA KARVELAS: You still need a funding deal with the States to be signed off.
The States want more health funding in exchange for support for taking more responsibility. That's essentially the sort of stalemate or where the negotiation is at. Can you guarantee that a deal will be done?
JENNY MCALLISTER: Well, no deal is ever guaranteed, Patricia, but we are at the table as good faith negotiators. I think the thing that gives me confidence is that there is a clear interest here for the States and for us in coming to an agreement, and I think the Australian public would like us to do so. We want to make our fair contribution to the functioning of hospitals.
That complements of course the investments we are already making to lift primary health, particularly through Medicare and bulk billing. We also want the NDIS to work well and to operate sustainably. We think the states have got a stake in that too.
They want a good NDIS system. The foundations of an agreement are there and we continue to come to the table as good faith negotiators. PATRICIA KARVELAS: The timeframe was to get this done this year.
Is that going to happen? JENNY MCALLISTER: That's still our plan. We'd like to get it done by the end of the year.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: And you think it's achievable? Has there been movement? Are you close?
JENNY MCALLISTER: We're having really constructive conversations with State counterparts. Of course, there's always some public discussion about people's different positions and priorities. But as I say, I think the foundations of the agreement are there for us because there is a public interest in us coming to an arrangement about these two very big, important pieces of social policy infrastructure, the hospital system and the disability insurance scheme.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: Yeah, and on the NDIS, the Thriving Kids is kind of key to that in the future. There's a lot of discussion about what that might look like. I know the AMA really wants GPs to be at the centre of early intervention.
Have you thought much about the construction of that? JENNY MCALLISTER: So we're really looking forward to the outcomes of the work that's being led by Professor Frank Oberklaid. We've had really terrific submissions to the committee inquiry that's been led by Dr Mike Freelander.
We do think that there's potentially a very important role for the Medicare system and for GPs here, but that's not at all by any means the extent of it. We've got great services across the States and Territories that possibly could be expanded to do more. That's the conversation we are having with States and Territories.
What services do you have? What kinds of children are they presently able to support? And what would it look like if we were seeking to scale those?
PATRICIA KARVELAS: On your funding agreement, there have been many times where the Commonwealth has done individual deals with different States. Education is obviously an example of that, getting them on board. Is that an approach that you're taking?
JENNY MCALLISTER: Look, I think at the moment, the Minister continues to talk with the States through The CAF... PATRICIA KARVELAS: The collective way…Is there any thinking about striking individual deals? Are there any States closer?
JENNY MCALLISTER: Look, I'm not party or privy to any of that thinking, but I would say this, we are working in a really collaborative way with representatives from all States and Territories at officials' level, and we continue to believe that it is in everyone's interest, whichever state they're from, to come to an agreement. PATRICIA KARVELAS: Now, there is a report that the Government has all but confirmed, as far as I can see, that there will be efficiencies found in departments.
What does that mean for the NDIS and the other departments, Health, where all of this work happens? Will they be immune? JENNY MCALLISTER: I'm not sure that this is the news that people think it is, Patricia.
We've been really clear since coming to Government that we look for savings so that we can redirect money towards the priorities of this Government. And we've been quite successful in doing so over the life of the Government. That's what is occurring now.
We are asking departments and agencies to have a look, see where we could find efficiencies and make room for some of the priorities that we know are really important. PATRICIA KARVELAS: And what happens in those departments then? Do they have to do it too?
Is there any quarantining of these areas? JENNY MCALLISTER: Sorry, the point I suppose that I would make is that in all of our areas of Government, there are priorities that we know are cherished by the community that we would like to make room for. We are looking for opportunities to find resources to support those, and that's really an ordinary part of Government operations.
PATRICIA KARVELAS: If the Liberals announce something similar, we'd call it a cut though. Why is there a different standard for what your Government's doing? JENNY MCALLISTER: I don't really accept this, we are, as has been made really clear by the Treasurer, by the Finance Minister, looking for opportunities to find savings to divert to other priorities.
Government has to keep up with community expectations. There are always efficiencies to be found and it's through those means that we've been able to make investments in some really important things that matter a lot to community. PATRICIA KARVELAS: Senator, thanks for coming in.
JENNY MCALLISTER: It's a pleasure. Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister Disability and carers Accessibility We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past and present. © Commonwealth of Australia