PM takes Shorten to task over NDIS

Treasurer Scott Morrison insists all Australians must do their bit to fund the national disability insurance scheme as parliament considers a hike to the Medicare levy.

Morrison introduced legislation on Wednesday to increase the Medicare levy by 0.5 per cent to fully fund the scheme, urging Labor to get on board.

“We implore the opposition to put aside the politics – we all have a responsibility to do our bit when it comes to fully funding the NDIS,” he told parliament.

Malcolm Turnbull earlier in the week accused Labor of a shameful abdication of responsibility by not fully funding the national disability insurance while accepting the plaudits for its establishment.

The prime minister on Monday launched a blistering parliamentary attack on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten over reports a majority of the shadow cabinet backed the government’s budget plan to increase the Medicare levy to pay for the NDIS.

Instead Shorten committed Labor to supporting a 0.5 per cent increase for people earning more than $87,000 a year.

“He wanted to score a cheap political point,” Turnbull said.

The opposition leader was prepared to win the plaudits from advocates for people with disability, to get the thanks from parents of disabled children but then not pay for it.

“This was a shameful abdication of responsibility on the part of the Labor Party,” Turnbull said.

Fairfax Media has revealed a majority of Shorten’s senior colleagues – including deputy leader Tanya Plibersek – argued for the party to back the government’s across-the-board rise in the Medicare levy.

Doing so would enable the NDIS, when it is fully deployed, to support 460,000 participants and enable them to lead a decent, dignified life, Turnbull said.

“It is the decent thing to do. It is the right thing to do,” he said

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said it appeared three-quarters of the shadow cabinet agreed the government plan was fair.