The Australian government's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bill is set to undergo "substantial" amendments after a deal was struck between Labor and the Coalition. NDIS ministers Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister revealed that 63 government amendments will be introduced across both houses as part of efforts to pass the bill tonight.
Among the changes is a provision for vulnerable participants whose budgets are affected by a new ministerial power to apply for additional funding through a plan variation. This new pathway is intended for individuals requiring continuous, 24-hour care, allowing them to apply for a variation within 90 days of a support determination.
However, the ministerial power to reduce funding for support categories across all participants has been criticised by the Greens, ACT senator David Pocock, and the disability community. Senator Pocock described this power as an "indiscriminate cut" that could impact hundreds of thousands of participants and potentially leave people in unsafe situations.
The Coalition also secured amendments to introduce new criminal and civil penalties for kickbacks involving NDIS funding. These include aggravated integrity offences such as obtaining funds by deception and providing false information.
Separately, amendments to close the "widow tax" loophole, which inadvertently affected individuals inheriting property after a partner's death or divorce, are expected to be voted on tomorrow morning.