The Australian government's controversial NDIS bill has passed the Senate following a deal between Labor and the Coalition that introduced 63 amendments, though critics warn it still includes cuts affecting participants.
Key facts
- The NDIS bill passed the Senate after a deal between Labor and the Coalition.
- Sixty-three government amendments were introduced across both houses.
- NDIS ministers Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister confirmed the amendments.
- ACT senator David Pocock says the bill still includes an 'indiscriminate cut' impacting thousands of participants.
- The bill is expected to pass the lower house on Wednesday.
The Australian government’s controversial National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bill has passed the Senate after Labor and the Coalition struck a deal to introduce substantial amendments, according to the Guardian.
The NDIS ministers, Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister, revealed that 63 government amendments were introduced across both houses as part of what the Guardian described as backroom deals to pass the bill. The amendments were agreed to in the upper house on Tuesday night.
Despite the changes, some of the amendments have attracted heavy criticism from the Greens, the ACT senator David Pocock and the disability community, the Guardian reported.
Pocock said the legislation still includes an ‘indiscriminate cut’ impacting thousands of participants. In an earlier version of the Guardian’s reporting, Pocock was quoted describing the impact as affecting hundreds of thousands of participants.
The bill is expected to pass the lower house on Wednesday, according to the Guardian, following its passage through the Senate.
The described amendments and the deal between the two major parties mark a significant step in the passage of the legislation, though the level of criticism from the crossbench and the disability community underscores ongoing concerns about its effects on participants.
Why it matters
The NDIS supports Australians living with disability, so changes to how the scheme operates can directly affect the support hundreds of thousands of people rely on. The deal between Labor and the Coalition shows how major parties can pass contested legislation despite objections from the crossbench and affected communities.
Frequently asked questions
How many amendments were made to the NDIS bill?
According to the Guardian, 63 government amendments were introduced across both houses as part of the deal between Labor and the Coalition.
Who criticised the amended bill?
The Guardian reported that the amendments attracted heavy criticism from the Greens, ACT senator David Pocock and the disability community.
When is the bill expected to pass the lower house?
The Guardian reported that the bill is expected to pass the lower house on Wednesday, after passing the Senate on Tuesday night.