Controversial NDIS bill undergoes ‘substantial’ amendments as Labor and Coalition strike deal
David Pocock says legislation still includes ‘indiscriminate cut’ impacting hundreds of thousands of participants The government’s controversial NDIS bill will undergo “substantial” amendments after Labor and the Coalition struck a deal, with some of the changes attracting heavy criticism from the Greens, the ACT senator David Pocock and the disability community. Sixty-three government amendments…
The controversial National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bill will undergo significant amendments as the government and both the Coalition and Labor parties reach an agreement, according to NDIS ministers Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister. The bill, which currently includes a "relatively substantial" change allowing vulnerable participants whose budgets are affected by a ministerial power to apply for additional funding, will be introduced in both houses of Parliament with sixty-three government amendments.
Greens Senator and ACT Senator David Pocock has criticized the change, calling it an "indiscriminate cut" that potentially impacts hundreds of thousands of participants. Pocock argues that the change could lead to unsafe situations for people requiring 24-hour support, potentially isolating them and increasing risks of violence, abuse, and exploitation.
The government estimates the $52bn-a-year scheme could double in cost over a decade without intervention, but the proposed amendments are expected to improve the federal budget's bottom line by $37.8 billion over four years. The bill is expected to pass in the Senate at 8pm on Tuesday, with support from the Coalition.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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