Getting 'ghosted' by a booking agent + NDIS reform

The Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is undergoing a major overhaul, with the government announcing plans to cut 160,000 people from the scheme by 2030 in an effort to rein in runaway costs. The changes include replacing diagnosis-based eligibility with a new functional capacity assessment tool and slashing funding for community participation. While Health Minister Mark Butler frames the move as a return to the NDIS’s original purpose—supporting only those with significant, permanent disability—critics warn the reforms could leave vulnerable people without essential support. Meanwhile, a separate investigation by Hack reveals a booking agency called Aussie Gigs allegedly ghosted over 20 musicians after performances, failing to pay them despite ticket sales. The agency’s operator, Michael, remains anonymous, and evidence suggests the company may be linked to another entity, Revolt Entertainment, registered to Jonathan Atansel—a musician who claims he’s no longer involved. The investigation highlights systemic vulnerabilities in the gig economy, where young artists are exploited due to lack of due diligence and weak enforcement. Both stories expose how systemic failures disproportionately impact marginalized groups—disabled people and emerging creatives—while calling for urgent reform in accountability and support structures.