NDIS IN FRAUD WARNING; NEW LIB LEADER

ACCC slams exploitation, false advertising by NDIS providers

Australia’s corporate regulator has delivered a damning report on the level of exploitation and breach of consumer law under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. In a new report, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says participants in the scheme are being targeted by some NDIS providers, citing examples of false and misleading advertising, and charging for products or services not supplied or delayed. The report says some NDIS providers were failing to provide clear written contracts or including unfair terms, and not honouring consumer guarantee protections. Some services or products were also falsely claimed to be ‘NDIS-approved’ or ‘eligible for NDIS funding’. The ACCC says it has taken proactive enforcement action against alleged breaches of Australian Consumer Law; it claims that more than 751,000 Australians have NDIS funding, in the $52 billion scheme.

Angus Taylor elected new Federal Liberal Leader

New South Wales MP Angus Taylor has been elected Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party, replacing Sussan Ley. Elected to Parliament in 2013, Mr Taylor most recently served as Shadow Minister for Defence, and before that, as Shadow Treasurer. He held the Energy and Industry portfolios during the term of the Morrison Government between 2018 and 2022. The new Opposition Leader represents the semi-rural electorate of Hume, south of Sydney. The new Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is Victorian Senator Jane Hume. Mr Taylor will face an early electoral test in a by-election, with Ms Ley announcing her intention to retire mid-term.

Global growth surpassing expectations, says Treasury head

Global economic growth has been more resilient than expected after last year’s sweeping increase in tariffs by the US, according to Australia’s Treasury head. Appearing before the Senate Estimates Committee hearing, Jenny Wilkinson said both China and the US had outperformed expectations despite weaker bilateral trade between the two nations. The Treasury Secretary said both a later implementation and lower rate of tariffs, a diversification of trade flows, and front-loading of imports had contributed to higher-than-expected growth. But she warned that the full impact of trade costs would eventually weigh on growth and supply chains. Domestically, Ms Wilkinson said businesses were investing heavily in software and cloud computing infrastructure, including in the construction of data centres. Much of this investment, however, had a high import share, so would have minimal impact on economic growth, but had the potential to lift productive capacity over time.

Malinauskas Labor government faces first election test in SA

South Australia goes to the polls on March 21, to cast judgment on the first term of the Labor government of Premier Peter Malinauskas. Going into the election, Labor has nominally 28 members in South Australia’s 47-seat House of Assembly, with early opinion polls tipping a return of Labor, potentially with a higher majority. Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn is the party’s third leader since Steven Marshall lost office after one term in 2022. Labor has ruled South Australia for 20 of the 24 years since the Rann government was elected in 2002.