Queensland Refuses to Sign Up for Federal Thriving Kids Program

A heated standoff is brewing between the federal government and Queensland over the state's refusal to sign up for the Thriving Kids program, a key initiative aimed at reducing spending on the $51 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). With the first phase of the program set to launch on October 1, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has expressed frustration with Queensland's holdout, accusing the state of putting politics ahead of the needs of its children and families.

Program Details and Queensland's Concerns

The Thriving Kids program, announced last August, is designed to provide services for children under nine with developmental delays or autism who have "low to moderate" support needs. The program is a cornerstone of the federal government's efforts to curb NDIS spending, with states and territories expected to provide these services in exchange for $25 billion in hospital funding from the Commonwealth.

However, Queensland's Liberal National government has refused to sign up, citing concerns over cost shifting and a lack of clarity on how "low to moderate" support needs will be defined. A spokesperson for Queensland's Acting Disability Minister Ros Bates said the state government's concerns remained, "Not only for young people who may fall through cracks in the system, but also for those vulnerable Queenslanders who have relied on the NDIS since it was established more than a decade ago to provide support for those in need."

Minister's Response and Calls for Action

Minister Butler hit back at Queensland's concerns, stating, "All other states and territories, Liberal and Labor alike, [are] just getting on with the business of developing their programs. So I'm frustrated with Queensland; it's a big state with a dispersed community." He added, "We're losing time, frankly, for Queensland parents and children."

Autism Association of Australia CEO Nicole Rogerson also weighed in on the issue, saying, "The sheer audacity of Queensland just saying 'I'm not prepared to be involved' is sort of shocking. I understand they're trying to make a political point, but there are families, real children at the end of this that won't have services in the state of Queensland."

Ms. Bates defended Queensland's position, stating, "We want to see the detail. We want to know what it means for kids who are under nine years of age, what happens after?" She claimed the state was not being belligerent but rather doing its "due diligence" for state taxpayers, adding, "Mark Butler knows full well that the deal that they are trying to give Queensland is substandard."

Program Implementation and Concerns

The first phase of Thriving Kids will focus on "general supports" such as online parenting courses and information resources, including phone lines. "Targeted supports," like therapies in schools, will gradually roll out, with full implementation expected by January 2028. However, many in the disability community fear the program will not adequately support children with moderate needs and that parents will be shouldering additional responsibilities.

Minister Butler mentioned that talks were starting with states over the development of non-NDIS supports for other groups, including a potential "Thriving Teens" program. However, Ms. Rogerson cautioned against rushing into new initiatives, stating, "The kinds of supports we give very small children with autism are very different when children are above age nine."