Queensland has missed the deadline to apply for the federal Thriving Kids program, which begins implementation today. Under the program, state governments will provide support to children up to the age of eight with mild to moderate autism or developmental delays. The program will be implemented in all states except Queensland.
Children covered by the Thriving Kids program will become ineligible for federal assistance via the NDIS in 2028. The program, implemented by the states, will effectively replace the NDIS for children with mild to moderate autism or developmental delays in January 2028. Queensland had agreed to the Thriving Kids agreement in January in exchange for billions for its health system, but has not yet agreed to its implementation.
LNP leader David Crisafulli said on Wednesday that he did not want the change to become a 'cost-shifting' exercise. Queensland has repeatedly stated that it will not agree to the measure without additional information from the Commonwealth, including on costs. Crisafulli expressed concern that the plan could become a 'cost-shifting' exercise, complaining of a lack of detail from the Commonwealth.
A group of disability advocacy organisations is set to write to Queensland's Minister for Child Safety, Amanda Camm, today, calling for greater consultation. Camm is currently on leave. Three disability advocacy organisations have published an open letter to the Queensland government, calling on it to inform them of the progress of the Thriving Kids program. The letter, addressed to the government, requests that the unresolved issues with the Commonwealth, the timeline for their resolution, and the work in progress on Queensland's service preparations be made public.
In a separate development, a package of state funding has secured a five-year electricity supply contract for one of Australia's four major aluminium smelters. The electricity supply contract for Bell Bay Aluminium in northern Tasmania was due to expire at the end of 2026. Bell Bay Aluminium had been in dispute with the state's Hydro Tasmania over the arrangement. A joint package of support from the state and federal governments has alleviated some concerns about the future of the smelter. The parties have negotiated a ten-year contract. Bell Bay Aluminium employs 550 workers, with a further 1,000 indirectly across northern Tasmania.
