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The ending of Victorian government grants on December 31, which had supplemented NDIS payments to prop up hundreds of group homes for vulnerable Victorians, threatens the closure of many services.

Labor’s NDIS dilemma: Chasing $190,000 scams while costs spiral toward $100b

A 10-person committee – including Labor, Coalition and Greens MPs – will investigate the $50b scheme as Labor builds a case for stricter rules and tighter spending.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos

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Rising taxes on tobacco over several years created a black market that became so lucrative that transnational crime gangs battled for control of it. One is led by Kazem “Kaz” Hamad.

‘We handed over billions to organised crime’: How official neglect and incompetence fuelled the tobacco war

Despite repeated warnings that rising tobacco taxes would hand a fortune to organised crime, governments watched a multibillion-dollar black market explode.

  • Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
National bulk-billing rates have risen by 7.8 per cent under Labor’s latest Medicare boost, but GPs say prices should be set independently to guarantee certainty into the future.

How GPs plan to end Medicare politics and change bulk billing for good

The college of GPs has been influential over government policy. Its latest call would dampen future election fights over Medicare by taking key decisions out of government hands.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
Isabelle Metaxotos says she now believes her ovary did not need to be removed.

‘I’m grieving my old body’: How a young woman lost her ovary to a surgeon now under investigation

The federal health minister has requested scrutiny of clinical governance at the Epworth hospital after allegations that one of its surgeons performed unnecessary surgeries to treat endometriosis.

  • Henrietta Cook
Health insurance premiums are rising.

Health insurance just became more expensive. Here’s what you need to know

The biggest rise in premiums in eight years will hit 15 million Australians from April. See how it affects your health fund.

  • Angus Thomson
Autism manifests in a range of ways – across genders, abilities and life experiences – defying any single definition.

Children won’t need an autism diagnosis to use Thriving Kids scheme

Health Minister Mark Butler unveiled the model for Thriving Kids – which will help children with lower support needs outside the NDIS – to be mainly run through states and territories.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
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Parents could face thousands of dollars of medical fees to maintain the same care, if new Medicare items reflect existing ones.

After autism changes, Labor will still need to find billions more in NDIS savings

Figures supplied to this masthead show that the Thriving Kids program will help the budget – but not enough to completely get NDIS spending under control.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
Teenagers Leon and Otis were killed by their parents in a suspected murder-suicide in Mosman Park on Friday.

‘Unspeakable tragedy’: Disability minister faces questions over Mosman Park murder-suicide

Since the tragedy, the spotlight has moved to the level of NDIS support and funding provided to the family.

  • Hamish Hastie
Health Minister Mark Butler.

‘We’re taking it seriously’: Australia monitoring India’s outbreak of deadly Nipah virus

However, infectious diseases experts have questioned why recent cases have caused such a response abroad.

  • Brittany Busch and Kate Aubusson
2025 Australian of the Year Neale Daniher has urged whoever takes his crowd to use the platform to make a change.

Neale Daniher’s fight against the ‘Beast’ is far from over

The AFL legend used his valedictory address as Australian of the Year to urge governments, the medical sector and the public not to lose momentum in the fight against motor neurone disease.

  • Rob Harris