Morning mail: NDIS’ ‘stealth cuts’, Australia’s influence wanes, new tunes

Monday: A terminally ill patient has his funding slashed. Plus: Guardian Australia's top music picks this month

Good morning. More NDIS participants are speaking up about funding cuts putting them in positions that would reduce their quality of life, and Australia's diplomatic influence in Asia has waned.

A terminally ill NDIS patient is facing re-hospitalisation after his funding for a 24-hour nurse was cut. Ian Haywood is the latest NDIS participant to speak out about what the federal Labor party and disability advocates say are stealth cuts". Haywood, who lives with motor neurone disease, had his plan cut to cover just six hours of nursing care each day, far less than the round-the-clock care he has previously been approved for. They don't think it is reasonable and necessary' for Ian to have nursing funding," said his partner, Bianca*. We think it is reasonable for him to stay home and it is necessary in order for him to live. It's cheaper for them if he dies."