Documents obtained by the Opposition through Freedom of Information requests reveal that almost $7 million of NDIS funding has been spent on subsidising overseas holidays for NDIS participants and their carers.
The records show that $6,982,898 was paid to just nine providers in the 2023 calendar year to subsidise holidays such as cruises and African safaris. Many of these providers prominently advertise NDIS-subsidised holidays on their websites, even offering “how-to” guides to ensure customers can extract the most out of their NDIS package.
For example, Club Mates Travel Australia’s website contains a downloadable ‘NDIS Travel Fact Sheet’ and a four-step guide titled How to Set NDIS Goals to Fund Supports for Travel.
Even the NDIS has conceded that this is a problem, indicating that it has commenced an “integrity campaign” to identify providers that are “inappropriately promoting holidays to participants.”
Opposition waste spokesman, James Stevens, said “it is outrageous that almost $7 million of NDIS funds have been spent on international holidays instead of going to those who need it most.
“The NDIS is meant to be supporting people with a disability, not funding Safaris to Kruger National Park in South Africa.
“Australian taxpayers would be rightly appalled to learn that registered NDIS providers are shamelessly encouraging recipients to use their taxpayer-funded NDIS packages to go on overseas holidays, particularly when a family holiday is out-of-reach for so many at this time.
“Australian families struggling under Anthony Albanese’s cost of living crisis will be shocked to know that their taxes are paying for overseas holidays,” Mr Stevens said.
