Politics With Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten's Around-The-World Trip To Discuss Peace In Ukraine And NDIS Reform

(MENAFN- The Conversation) Bill Shorten, the minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), is currently in New York at a United Nations conference on the rights of people with disabilities .

At the weekend, he'll fly to Europe to represent Australia at a summit in Switzerland aimed at finding international consensus on a peace path for the Ukrainian conflict.

In this podcast, Shorten discusses these conferences, as well as the ongoing process of reforming the NDIS.

On what the Ukrainian peace conference hopes to achieve, given Russia will not be there, Shorten says

Read more: With Russia not attending, what can this weekend's Ukraine peace summit achieve?

Australia has given substantial aid to Ukraine but refused its request for retired Taipan helicopters and a shipment of coal. Shorten says:

Shorten currently has legislation going through parliament to reform the NDIS. The UN disabilities conference has been an opportunity to share information with other countries.

NDIS reform involves a battle against fraud and what have been exploding costs. Shorten says:

Finally, there's been speculation about whether Shorten would be interested in an oversees post. Will he be around for the long haul? Asked if he'll contest the next election, he says,

MENAFN13062024000199003603ID1108327111