A new agreement on NDIS reforms could soon be made official. 

The federal government says it has reached agreement with states and territories to push forward reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). 

The deal is aimed at ensuring the scheme’s long-term sustainability.

On Wednesday, Shorten, along with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, announced that the federal and state governments had agreed on several changes to the NDIS bill currently before the Senate. 

These changes, including faster approval times for NDIS rules, a new dispute resolution process, and a shift from unanimous to majority support for significant rule changes, were made in response to state concerns.

Shorten and Malinauskas stated that the changes would protect the NDIS's sustainability in the short to medium term and support the government's plan to reduce cost growth to 8% by mid-2026. 

The agreement reportedly ensures the support of the federal Coalition, which is essential for passing the bill.

“The states and the federal government are getting their act together and that people with disability and participants are not a political football,” Shorten said.

He acknowledged that while it is difficult to estimate waste within the scheme, he is confident that reforms could save at least $1-2 billion without affecting service quality or access. 

He also noted that the scheme's expenses for the year to June 30 were $600 million below budget expectations, indicating early progress.

The agreement is a significant step toward reforming the NDIS, but it has faced criticism. Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John called the bill a “betrayal”, claiming it could harm disabled Australians.