National

'Wedding tax' crackdown on inflated NDIS prices

By AAP Newswire

Dec 17, 2023

NDIS minister Bill Shorten — Minister Bill Shorten said unscrupulous providers exploiting NIDS participants will be stopped. -AAP Image

A crackdown's been launched on dodgy NDIS suppliers jacking up prices, with a new taskforce charged with stamping out inflated costs for the disability support scheme.

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Some providers are accused of increasing prices just because their customers are connected to the scheme, which NDIS Minister Bill Shorten likened to the so-called "wedding tax" that sees some suppliers increase costs for weddings.

Changes are being made to strengthen the NDIS Act and NDIS rules so the scheme's commissioner can ban providers and have greater action on compliance.

Mr Shorten said unscrupulous providers who exploit participants would be stopped.

"We are cracking down on unreasonable pricing practices to ensure every possible dollar in the NDIS is being used to support people with disability," Mr Shorten said.Â

"Labor is committed to getting the NDIS back on track, which includes addressing dodgy pricing to protect participants and safeguard the longevity of the scheme."

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the National Disability Insurance Agency are involved in the $6.7 million taskforce.

Mr Shorten encouraged participants to report providers charging unreasonable price differences as they should not be paying more for equipment and services than those who are not connected to the scheme.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press