{
  "id": 1698273,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T11:33:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SBS News",
    "slug": "sbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/controversial-ndis-changes-last-minute-green-light-labor-deal-coalition/js08pvtlm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bill, intended to curb excessive disability spending, faced controversy after the Senate approved numerous last-minute amendments on Tuesday night. Initially proposed by Labor in April, the changes aimed to reduce social funding and grant the minister greater authority, with the goal of saving $37.8 billion by the end of the decade. Despite initial opposition from disability advocates, the bill secured approval with 28 votes in favor and 12 against.\n\nHowever, just hours before the vote, the government unveiled an additional 63 amendments in response to community concerns. One of these changes allows severely disabled individuals who require constant care to appeal decisions made by the NDIS minister regarding their funding. Greens disability spokesperson Jordon Steele-John criticized the bill, stating that it would strip disabled Australians of their rights regardless of their safety and dignity.\n\nThe amendments introduced increased penalties for NDIS providers involved in kickbacks and provided specific whistleblower protections. Tougher aggravated integrity offenses were also included, covering actions such as obtaining funds through deception, providing false information, or intentionally destroying records. NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister emphasized these changes during the vote, noting that they passed the upper house with minimal debate.\n\nThe bill's approval came after a deal between Labor and the Coalition, which included the removal of a \"widow tax\" loophole in federal budget reforms. In exchange for closing this loophole, the opposition supported Labor's bill, which was previously planned for implementation in late 2026. The conflation of unrelated topics, including the widow tax and NDIS reforms, drew criticism from Steele-John, who accused the government of using disabled people as a political football.\n\nThe implementation of the NDIS laws in the Senate threatened to delay the promised budget savings, as the package was not passed in time. Treasurer Jim Chalmers had previously announced Labor's plan to close the loophole, but government officials initially claimed there was no rush to pass the reforms, as they would only apply from July 2027. However, pressure mounted on Labor to expedite the process after independent senator David Pocock learned of a domestic violence victim who had been denied financing on a property due to the loophole.",
  "summary": "The government unveiled 63 changes in response to community concern, just hours before the final vote was due to take place.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-08-18T09:18:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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": "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"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}