Media Releases by The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Cracking down on unfair NDIS participant pricing
The Australian Government is putting an end to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) “wedding tax” that has seen people with disability being forced to…
Community Partnerships continue to grow
The Albanese Labor Government has today announced a specialist community partnership between Services Australia and non-government organisations (NGOs) is set to be expanded to help…
New Services Australia CEO Appointed
Today, the Albanese Labor Government has announced the appointment of senior, distinguished public servant David Hazlehurst as Services Australia’s newest CEO. Mr Hazlehurst joins the…
Services Australia responds to impacts of Cyclone Jasper
Services Australia has today closed some Centrelink and Medicare offices in North Queensland as a direct result of the looming impacts of Cyclone Jasper. Service…
Landmark independent NDIS Review report released
Today the final report of the Independent NDIS Review (the Review) has been released today at 9am (https://www.ndisreview.gov.au/). The report maps out the Review’s recommendations…
Recognising International Day of People with Disability
Today is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), a United Nations day that promotes community awareness and understanding of people with disability. The theme…
New appointment to NDIS Independent Advisory Council
The Government has today announced the appointment and reappointment of members of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Independent Advisory Council (IAC). Minister for the…
Claim your share in over $230 million in Medicare benefits
The Albanese Government wants to reunite Aussies with $234 million in unclaimed Medicare benefits. All you need to do is check your bank account details…
Fraud Fusion Taskforce investigates $1 billion in NDIS payments in first year
The Australian Government’s commitment to stopping fraud is helping to protect the funding that supports Australians living with disability and saving the National Disability Insurance…
Hearing Australia Figtree centre officially opened
Today the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services, officially opened the Hearing Australia Figtree centre…
Government response to Robodebt Royal Commission
The Albanese Government has today tabled the response to the Robodebt Royal Commission. The Government has agreed, or agreed in principle, to all 56 of…
New myGov Advisory Group as crackdown on scams begins
The Albanese Labor Government has today announced a new Advisory Group that will use expert insights to ensure future myGov improvements put the customer first.…
3,000 Staffing Boost for Services Australia
The Albanese Labor Government is putting people back at the centre of government services, with thousands of new jobs created to improve Centrelink and Medicare…
Flinders University toolkit empowers people with disability in their decision-making about Behaviour Support Plans
Flinders University has launched its supported decision-making toolkit and practical resources website for people with disability and the people who support them. The new toolkit…
Cutting NDIS appeals cases
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants are seeing faster decision-making through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), thanks to targeted alternate dispute resolution initiatives. For AAT…
Hearing Australia launch new partnership with Salvation Army
Minister for the NDIS and Government Services Bill Shorten MP has today launched a new partnership between the Commonwealth, Hearing Australia and the Salvation Army.…
Centrelink and Medicare services coming soon to Butler
Services Australia has reached agreement to open a new Service Centre on Butler Boulevard in early 2024, providing Butler residents with easier access to government…
Stronger protections for frontline staff
In May this year, our Government announced an urgent review into staff safety at Services Australia in response to a serious physical attack on a…
Additional support for Community Sector Organisations
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a strong community sector and will today begin the process of rolling out the first increased indexation and…
Findings of the Disability Royal Commission
The Albanese Labor Government welcomes the final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. The report –…
Partnerships in Alice Springs to support the community
Services Australia is playing a crucial role in supporting people in Central Australia to improve their wellbeing, by boosting government services through local community organisations.…
Boosting support for Australians with autism
The Albanese Labor Government is supporting Australians with autism by investing in their future with an extension of funding for Autism CRC totalling $4 million…
Disability Sector Rallies Support for Voice to Parliament
In an Australian first, the disability sector have come together with First Nations people to launch an Easy Read interpretation of the Uluru Statement of…
Services Australia CEO Rebecca Skinner retires
I have been informed that Rebecca Skinner PSM, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Services Australia, will resign from the Australian Public Service (APS) effective…
Own Motion Inquiry into Platform Providers places NDIS participant voices front and centre
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has today released the Insights Report: Own Motion Inquiry into Platform Providers Operating in the NDIS market. Minister for…