NDIS minister believes service changes can help save nearly $15b

Outgoing NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says recent changes to approved services on the National Disability Insurance Scheme could help save nearly $15 billion in taxpayer funds.

Shorten yesterday announced a sweeping reform to the scheme, banning items and services including tarot cards, clairvoyance, wilderness therapy and cuddle therapy.

NDIS participants will be given a one-year grace period to get used to the changes and administrators will have the power to waive mistaken claims under $1500.

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Speaking to A Current Affair, Shorten admitted the changes were belated, but placed the onus on previous ministers for not making changes sooner.

"Well [the changes] are overdue and they are common sense," Shorten said.

"You probably have to ask the seven Coalition ministers who were in charge of the portfolio before me [why it took so long].

"I think what I'm doing is just spelling out in black and white what needs to be done, making it clear for participants what is and isn't allowed expenditure."

Shorten said he hoped the revamp would help rebuild public trust in the scheme.

"The rules are now in black and white, they're legally enforceable," he said.

"Most people are doing the right thing and the scheme is changing lives [but] the truth is there is some proportion who've been having a lend of the scheme, over-charging, over-servicing.

"We think over the next four years through the various reforms, including these, but not just these, that we will be able to stop wasteful growth in the order of nearly $15 billion."

Watch the full video in the player above.