The Australian federal and state governments will partner up within the next fortnight to develop a new financial sustainability plan for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) after the scheme’s budget increased beyond expectations. Ministers discussed the issue in a meeting on Friday and agreed to accelerate the development of an “NDIS sustainability work plan.” This will encompass an interim report to disability ministers in October and then a final report by the end of the year. “There is now a common understanding (among ministers) that there is a serious emerging sustainability issue, and that we now need to do more work together to gain a common understanding of the cost drivers,” federal NDIS minister Linda Reynolds told The Australian. Federal and state treasuries will be involved in the plan development, considering the substantial amount of funding that the NDIS receives. Over the past two budgets, the federal government alone has …