The AFR has published yet another completely uninformed and un-evidenced piece Blame diagnostic inflation for the NDIS’ $10 billion Autism bill - see https://archive.md/p1f9i 

The same author wrote The end of cash for diagnosis? Now that would be a good thing 28/8/2025 - maybe he expects clinicians to diagnose complex conditions for free? Is he advocating moving clinical diagnosis back as a government service? I doubt that very much.

The reality is that diagnosis for most autistic children is being delayed by their being labelled with Developmental Delay (or Global Developmental Delay) - see https://a4.org.au/node/2587 Children are given these labels because people (other than their parents) believe they need extra support. Families don't want to spend their time and effort dragging kids to therapy that they don't need ... and hanging around while it happens. 

Anyway, most autistic kids get their autism diagnosis after 6 years of age, when they can no longer be labelled with developmental delay.

But best not to read the AFR article - just recognise that the AFR, like The Australian, is campaigning against some of Australia's most vulnerable.