MS Australia CEO Rohan Greenland has welcomed last night’s announcement that the Government will release an additional $508.5 million over the next four years for medical research; hailing the decision as a significant advocacy win.
“I welcome the announcement that the Government will lift the cap on MRFF funding, albeit over the next four years.
“MS Australia, together with the Neurological Alliance Australia, has long highlighted the need for continued government investment in health and medical research and, together with others in the research and health communities, championed the need to unlock the full funding of the MRFF,” Mr Greenland said.
MS Australia has undertaken an analysis of the 2026-27 Budget to explore how it will impact the lives of people living with MS across healthcare, disability, aged care and broader social supports.
MS Australia welcomes the substantial investment in this Budget in medical research, bulk billing, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, PBS listings, mental health, aged care reform, employment services and some aspects of NDIS reform.
There were missed opportunities in this Budget with limited clarity about how and when foundational supports will be delivered, no meaningful increase to income support payments, and ongoing gaps between the disability and aged care systems.
The areas of Budget investment are outlined below:
The Budget includes welcome investment in medical research through increased Medical Research Future Fund disbursements, NHMRC funding and clinical trial reforms. These measures could strengthen MS research capacity and accelerate access to new treatments, but continued long-term investment remains essential to prevent, halt and reverse MS progression.
The Budget funds NDIS reforms, provider regulation, the Inclusive Communities Fund and foundational supports outside the NDIS. These measures could improve access and system sustainability, but major concerns remain about transparency, implementation timelines, and whether these reforms will reduce supports for people with disability, including people living with MS.
The Budget includes important health measures for people with MS, including expanded bulk billing, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, new PBS listings such as Briumvi for the treatment of relapsing‑remitting MS, mental health funding, and hospital investment. These initiatives should reduce costs and improve access to treatment, urgent care, medicines and broader health services.
The Budget increases funding for aged care regulation, workforce, residential care and Support at Home. These measures are welcome, but major concerns remain about long wait times, limited home care funding, and the continued gap between aged care and NDIS supports for older people living with disability, including MS.
The Budget includes tax cuts, employment services and carer workplace supports that may assist some people with MS. However, it fails to increase key income support payments such as the DSP and JobSeeker, leaving many people with MS facing ongoing financial hardship and inadequate support for basic living costs
