Media Releases by The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Protecting people living with disability from the latest COVID-19 wave
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to protecting people living with disability and their carers from the latest COVID-19 winter wave and will launch a…
Chair of NDIA Board resigns
I have received the resignation of The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine AO as Chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Board. I wish to…
Disaster payments available for more NSW flood-impacted residents
Federal Government disaster payments are available now to eligible residents in eight additional local government areas (LGAs) affected by the severe storms and flooding that…
Shorten visits disaster claim centre as payments hit $340m in 3 days for flood affected NSW
Almost 415,000 people affected by the severe storms and flooding in New South Wales (NSW) have received more than $340 million in Australian Government disaster…
$34 million in support delivered to flood-affected communities in NSW
Australian Government support is flowing through to people impacted by the recent flood event in New South Wales, with Services Australia delivering $34 million in…
Disaster payments available for NSW flood-impacted residents
Australian Government disaster payments will roll out from tomorrow to eligible residents in 23 local government areas (LGAs) affected by the severe storms and flooding…
Commonwealth financial help available for more flood impacted communities in New South Wales
More people in New South Wales impacted by this year’s flooding disaster will have access to financial help from today. The Australian Government has activated…
Disability support boosted by nearly $5M investment
New and improved supports and resources for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers and participants will be developed thanks to an investment of $4.998 million…
Calling on recruits for new Winter Relief Workforce to help protect NDIS participants
The Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Minister for the NDIS and Government Services, is calling on qualified disability support workers to join a register to cover…
NDIS pricing boosted to support participants
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants will have better access to safe supports following the completion of the Annual Pricing Review. From 1 July…
A transition plan for Activ support workers with disability
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth today announced the Australian Government will provide grant funding of up to $7.8 million to Western Australia disability employment…
Getting NDIS participants home from hospital
National Disability Insurance Scheme participants who are stuck in hospital due to NDIS delays will be prioritised under a new plan agreed to by the…
Welfare payment accuracy slips under Coalition
The Albanese Labor Government today revealed that welfare payment accuracy has dropped due to the Coalition’s mismanagement of the welfare system, with JobSeeker accuracy dropping…
Rosemary Kayess re-elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
We congratulate Rosemary Kayess on her re-election to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A respected lawyer and academic, Ms…
Man arrested on suspicion of $300,000 NDIS fraud
The arrest and charging of a man at Brisbane International Airport on suspicion of defrauding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is proof of the…
NDIA CEO Martin Hoffman to resign
I have been informed that the Board of the National Disability Insurance Agency and the Chief Executive Officer, Martin Hoffman, have agreed Mr Hoffman will…
Better cinema access for hearing and vision-impaired
Australia’s four major cinema groups and the Australian Government have agreed to jointly fast track new audio description and captioning technology, as part of a…
Government launches disability employment discussion paper
The Gillard Government today released a discussion paper on improved support to Australians with severe or profound disability who need supported employment through Australian Disability…
Supporting carers of children and teenagers with disability
The Gillard Government is continuing to deliver support to carers of children and teenagers with disability through the popular MyTime and Outside School Hours Care…
Promoting livable housing design in Australia
Leaders of the housing industry, disability sector and community have today agreed to an aspirational target that all new homes will be built to disability-friendly…
$700,000 for Barkuma disability enterprise building upgrade
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today announced $700,000 in funding to the Australian Disability Enterprise Barkuma, for refurbishments to its factory…
New Tax Laws to Help People with Severe Disabilities, their Families and Carers pass through Parliament
Legislation to make the taxation of special disability trusts fairer and simpler was passed by Parliament today. The legislation, contained in the Tax Laws Amendment…
Government releases website accessibility national transition strategy
People with disabilities will have better access to Australian Government websites as a result of the implementation of new website accessibility guidelines. Minister for Finance…
National consultation on disabilities convention report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, today announced a national public consultation process on Australia’s first report under…
Funding boost and less red tape for Australian Disability Enterprises
Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) will receive an additional $4.5 million in 2010-2011 to allow them to continue to support over 19,000 workers with disability across…