{
  "id": 1679432,
  "title": "Controversial NDIS bill undergoes ‘substantial’ amendments as Labor and Coalition strike deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/controversial-ndis-bill-undergoes-substantial-amendments-as-labor-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T09:18:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian",
    "slug": "the-guardian",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/18/controversial-ndis-bill-undergoes-substantial-amendments-as-labor-and-coalition-strike-deal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bill is set to undergo substantial amendments after a deal between the Labor and Coalition parties. These changes, which number sixty-three across both houses, aim to make the legislation the best possible version. One notable alteration allows vulnerable participants, whose budgets are affected by a new ministerial power, to apply for additional funding through a plan variation. Responding to criticism from the Greens, ACT Senator David Pocock, and the disability community, Pocock mentioned this change remains his primary concern, describing it as an \"indiscriminate cut\" that could negatively impact hundreds of thousands of participants. The ministerial power to reduce funding for support categories across all participants by up to 99% has been criticized for potentially isolating people, leading to increased risks of violence, abuse, and exploitation. The bill is expected to pass in the Senate at 8pm on Tuesday night, with the Coalition's support. The government estimates the NDIS scheme will cost over $100bn annually by the middle of the next decade, and these amendments are expected to improve the federal budget's bottom line by $37.8bn over four years.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [
    "63 amendments to NDIS bill in both houses",
    "Ministerial power to reduce funding by up to 99%",
    "Bill expected to pass Senate at 8pm Tuesday night"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Labor, Coalition agree gambling can police itself. Good luck with that",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/labor-coalition-agree-gambling-can-police-itself-good-luck-with-that",
        "published": "2026-08-18T09:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Labor, Coalition agree gambling can police itself. Good luck with that",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/labor-coalition-agree-gambling-can-police-itself-good-luck-with-that-1682395",
        "published": "2026-08-18T09:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "Controversial NDIS bill undergoes ‘substantial’ amendments as Labor and Coalition strike deal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/controversial-ndis-bill-undergoes-substantial-amendments-as-labor-and-1682829",
        "published": "2026-08-18T09:33:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Controversial changes to NDIS will pass after Labor strikes deal with Coalition",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/controversial-changes-to-ndis-will-pass-after-labor-strikes-deal-with",
        "published": "2026-08-18T10:38:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SBS News",
        "title": "Controversial NDIS changes get last-minute green light as Labor cuts deal with Coalition",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/controversial-ndis-changes-get-last-minute-green-light-as-labor-cuts",
        "published": "2026-08-18T11:33:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}