NDIS slashed and health insurance subsidy for over-65s scrapped in Butler's pre-budget package

The Conversation · Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra · Wednesday 22 April 2026

NDIS slashed and health insurance subsidy for over-65s scrapped in Butler's pre-budget package

Health Minister Mark Butler unveils major NDIS cuts and scraps the higher private health insurance rebate for over-65s ahead of next month's federal budget.

Butler slashes the NDIS and rips the health insurance subsidy off the over-65s in the same package — two bits of the safety net gone before the budget's even printed. The scheme was sold as a right; it's being managed like a cost centre. Whitlam built Medicare. This mob's discovered the accountant's pen.

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