Queensland is facing mounting federal pressure after Premier David Crisafulli refused to sign a bilateral funding deal tied to the new Thriving Kids program — a $4 billion scheme designed to gradually move children with developmental delay or autism away from the National Disability Insurance Scheme — leaving families and advocates anxious about what comes next.
The program, which is co-funded by state and federal governments and targets children aged eight and under with low to moderate support needs, formally launched on Thursday. Every other state and territory has signed on. Queensland has not.
Federal Government Demands Queensland Explain Itself
NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister did not mince words, saying Queensland must answer for its "inability so far to live up to the agreement" that all state, territory and federal leaders had struck earlier this year. She pointed out that Queensland families were already asking their state government what Thriving Kids services would actually be available for their children.
McAllister's challenge came after Crisafulli publicly pushed back on the program's terms, calling on the Commonwealth to guarantee that vulnerable children would not be left without support. "The federal government, by its own admission, says that the NDIS is a runaway train," Crisafulli told reporters. "All we want is families to be protected, and before we hop in the driver's seat, we want the knowledge from Canberra that vulnerable people won't be collateral damage."
Queensland Disability Services Minister Amanda Camm was equally blunt, labelling Thriving Kids a "cost-shifting deal" and "a bad deal for children with a disability."
What the Thriving Kids Program Actually Means for Families
Despite the political standoff, some immediate supports have already launched nationally — including a new autism helpline and an information hub to help families navigate the changes. Importantly, Queensland families can access these resources even though their state government has not formally signed up to the bilateral agreement.
Advocates have stressed that the launch of Thriving Kids does not mean children will be removed from the NDIS straight away. No child currently on the NDIS will be moved off it immediately. Changes to NDIS eligibility criteria are not scheduled to take effect until 2028, with other states and territories set to begin designing targeted support services from January 2027. Children with permanent and significant disability, including those with high support needs, will remain eligible for the NDIS beyond that date.
For more background on how recent NDIS reforms may affect participants, see our earlier coverage of NDIS guideline changes and what participants need to know, as well as the role of NDIS support providers in meeting health needs.
Confusion and Anxiety Spreading Across the Country
The political dispute is compounding what disability advocates describe as already widespread confusion among Australian families. Jenny Karavolas, independent co-chair of the Australian Autism Alliance, said the uncertainty was not confined to Queensland.
"It doesn't matter which state you're in, families are just concerned and anxious," she said. "It is confusing what's happening, when it's happening. Everyone's trying to get more information to make sure that it's clearer."
Karavolas emphasised the importance of clear communication and cooperation between governments, warning that children should not bear the cost of administrative disagreements. "Children shouldn't be the shock absorber while the adults are trying to get the right systems" in place, she said, calling for a clear roadmap to be established as a matter of urgency.
What Happens Next
While Queensland has not signed the bilateral funding deal, Crisafulli had previously agreed in principle to establish foundational supports outside the NDIS — arrangements linked to a share of $25 billion in hospital funding from the Commonwealth. That earlier agreement makes the state's current refusal to formally commit to Thriving Kids all the more pointed in Canberra's eyes. Negotiations between the Queensland government and the federal government are ongoing, with families left watching and waiting for resolution.
