Controversial Changes to NDIS Will Pass After Labor Strikes Deal with Coalition
The Senate backed 63 last-minute amendments after Labor struck a deal with the Coalition to secure support for the disability reforms.
- Labor sealed an agreement with the Coalition on Tuesday to pass its contentious NDIS overhaul, which should recoup $37 billion over four years and $150 billion in a decade, with the Senate voting 28-12 in favour.
- Pressure to close a so-called widow tax loophole affecting divorcees and widows accelerated the timeline after independent Senator David Pocock revealed a domestic violence victim was denied property financing because of the tax flaw.
- Hours before the final vote, the government introduced 63 amendments addressing community concerns, including protections allowing high-needs participants requiring 24-hour care to appeal budget cuts and new criminal penalties for NDIS fraud.
- Starting in October, disabled Australians will face average budget cuts of 50 per cent as the scheme removes 240,000 people and implements new eligibility rules aiming to reduce participants from 760,000 to 600,000 by 2030.
- Health and Disability Minister Mark Butler acknowledged substantial work remains to develop a Thriving Teens program within 16 months and establish support systems for older children and adults removed from the scheme by January 1, 2028, as most states prepare Thriving Kids rollout from October.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Sweeping NDIS Reforms Clear Senate
Dozens of eleventh-hour amendments to a controversial bill designed to claw back runaway disability spending have passed the upper house despite outcry from advocates. Labor has been touting changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including sweeping new powers for the relevant minister and a cut in social funding, since April in a bid to save $37.8 billion (US$26.8 billion) by the end of the decade. The changes passed the Senate on …
Sydney Morning Herald
Labor floats ‘Thriving Teens’ scheme as laws pass to remove 240,000 from NDIS
Health Minister Mark Butler said new systems for older children and adults would be running by January 2028, despite the tight turnaround time.
Newcastle Herald
Sweeping NDIS changes get the green light
Multiple changes were added at the last minute to contentious NDIS reforms after a deal between the major...
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