THE SQUIZ
We’re strapping in for another week of pre-Budget jazz hands as the Albanese Government continues rolling out funding announcements ahead of the 9 May Federal Budget on Tuesday next week. [Insert Oprah’s voice: “You get a stadium, Tasmania… You get a restructure, Defence Force…”] And on Friday following a meeting of National Cabinet, PM Anthony Albanese announced $720 million aimed at improving the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as well as a plan to eventually cut down its ballooning cost. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the scheme is one of the main pressures on the Budget.

WHAT’S UP WITH THE NDIS?
When the NDIS was first introduced by the Gillard Government in 2013 to support Australians with disabilities, its cost was expected to rise by 4% annually… but instead it’s growing by about 14%. Part of that growth is down to more Aussies than expected accessing the NDIS – in total about 550,000 by the end of last year. And there are organised fraud issues, according to Government Services Minister Bill Shorten. Around $48 million of the new NDIS funding will be used to crack down on misuse of the scheme, but that’s not the only measure to cut NDIS costs… The Albanese Government has also promised that by 2026 annual growth will be capped at 8% – a move which surprised and upset some. “It’s a target to reduce the spending on the NDIS,” advocate Elly Desmarchelier said, and the government doesn’t disagree… Their figures show that if NDIS spending growth can be capped at 8%, the government will save $50 billion over the next decade.

WILL WE HEAR MORE AHEAD OF THE BUDGET?
Yep – especially about the tricky economic conditions that currently prevail. New this morning is the latest CoreLogic data indicating that the price dip in the housing market is over, despite the Reserve Bank’s 10 successive rate rises. Just on housing – last week’s Anglicare report found that 1% of rental listings would be affordable for minimum wage workers, and PM Albanese has promised more funding and progress at this week’s Housing Ministers meeting  – and not just because he was heckled about it on Saturday… Also new today, Labor is looking to trim spending by reviewing hundreds of what they call “press release projects” – infrastructure projects promised by previous Coalition governments that have yet to commence construction. And as many businesses struggle and fail following a tough few years, some analysts (paywall) are now saying we might see a surplus next Tuesday night thanks to a surge in tax revenue from soaring resource prices. Strange days indeed…