Queensland is not participating as a national autism support program, Thriving Kids, launches in other parts of Australia. Families in Queensland are left waiting while the scheme becomes available elsewhere on Thursday, according to coverage across multiple outlets.
The Crisafulli government argues the federal plan is a “bad deal” and frames Queensland’s position as a policy and financial disagreement. The federal government counters that Queensland is the only state not joining the program and criticises it as a holdout, with implications for access to support services for children and families.
Outlets broadly report the same timeline and dispute: the federal program begins without Queensland, while state and federal leaders take opposing views on whether Queensland’s decision is justified. The reporting focuses on the resulting uncertainty for families seeking autism-related assistance and the public disagreement over how and where the program should operate.
