Government announces major cuts to NDIS | Evening News Bulletin 22 April 2026

Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . TRANSCRIPT: The federal government tightens access to the NDIS; Military planners meeting in London on how to re-open the Strait of Hormuz; Essendon's Jordan Ridley sidelined with a calf strain days before an iconic Anzac Day match. The Health Minister has outlined cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme in a major pre-budget speech to the National Press Club. In the speech, Mr Butler has said the NDIS was established to support people with significant and permanent disability, but its scope has expanded to cover many Australians with less significant needs. The government wants to reduce the rate of growth of the NDIS to between 5 and 6 per cent each year. The Minister says that in order to achieve this, he will introduce a bill in the Budget sittings that would establish standardised, evidence-based assessments of a person’s functional capacity to determine access to the Scheme. "In line with the scheme's original intent, access will be based upon a significant reduction in a person's functional capacity that impacts their day-to-day living. It will also remove the use of the lists that currently decide a participant's eligibility based in diagnosis alone." . The Minister has also made a major announcement on aged care funding. He says older Australians will have their private health insurance rebate cut in order to cover the cost of showering for those receiving at home aged care support packages. Under the original co-pay reforms introduced in November, people receiving aged care support have had to pay $50 an hour for the services, raising concerns that some residents were being forced to cut basic care needs. . US President Donald Trump says he's ready to resume bombing Iran if there isn't progress in talks being mediated by Pakistan. Mr Trump earlier agreed to extend its ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request, while keeping forces “ready and able” and maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports and shipping Speaking to CNBC, Mr Trump has said he expects there will be a great deal with Iran. "I think they have no choice. We've taken out their Navy. We've take it out their Air Force. We've taking out their leaders, frankly, which does complicate things in one way, but these leaders are much more rational. It's a, it is regime change, no matter what you want to call it, which is not something I said I was going to do, but I've done it. Indirectly maybe, but I've done it. And I think we're in a very strong negotiating position to do what other presidents should have done during a 47-year period." . Australia is taking part in a two-day meeting of military planners in London aimed at advancing a mission to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. The vital shipping lane has effectively been shut since the start of the war. Last week, more than a dozen countries said they were willing to join an international mission led by Britain and France to protect shipping when conditions allow. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the meeting will consider both short and long term objectives. "With like-minded countries who want to see an end to the conflict but also want to discuss how we resolve this post-conflict such as the sea mines that are in the strait, the welfare of the seafarers and how we get repair to infrastructure which has been damaged." . A new report has highlighted the harrowing journeys faced by those who are forced into scam work. The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) report has found that most people trafficked into cyber‐scam centres are young adults from a range of countries seeking better‐paid jobs, under the lure of offers that appear to be legitimate. Cyber Security Minister Tony Burke says they are part of a growing network luring women and girls, some as young as 11, who then are subjected to possible sexual assault, torture and imprisonment. "We're talking about circumstances where women have their passports taken, where they are effectively imprisoned, where they have no rights at all and are effectively in a slavery situation. The people who are scammed , it's not just you losing your money, you are also funding an entire operation which is destroying the lives of women overseas." [[If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.]] . A man who carried out a series of unprovoked stabbing attacks on strangers in Melbourne will remain behind bars for at least half a decade. Daniel Clavell has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for random attacks - including on four strangers on a busy shopping strip in Melbourne's northwest in 2023. Victorian County Court Judge Sandra Davis has described his conduct as extremely serious, noting the victims were left traumatised, some with lifelong scars. She says he appeared to show little to no remorse for his actions. . In AFL, Essendon's Jordan Ridley will be sidelined for up to a month after straining a calf muscle. It's a blow for the defender ahead of the club's traditional Anzac Day match against Collingwood. But coach Brad Scott says the club won't rush him back. "He's frustrated and disappointed but he's a professional and we'll just continue to support him and gt him right because he's clearly an important player for us."